Prevalence of simian, Suwon, and Sydney creases in acquired idiopathic blindness in some selected schools for the blind in Nigeria

John Nwolim Paul, EA Osunwoke, CW Paul

Annals of Bioanthropology 2016 4(2):75-78

Background: The study of palmar flexion creases such as simian, Suwon, and Sydney creases is important since they have strong medical implications. Aim: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of simian, Suwon, and Sydney creases in acquired idiopathic blindness. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 (36 blind and 36 nonblind) participants were recruited for the study that comprised 22 blind male and 14 blind female participants, 18 male and 18 female nonblind participants. The sampling technique used was convenience purposive sampling. Fingerprints and toeprints were obtained using print. Results: The prevalence of palmar creases in blind and nonblind male and female participants showed that the blind participants had 0% prevalence of simian crease, 3.8% prevalence of Suwon, and 0.6% prevalence of Sydney crease, whereas the nonblind participants have 0% prevalence of the creases. In the female blind participants, there was 0% prevalence of simian crease, 1.2% prevalence of Suwon, and 0.6% prevalence of Sydney crease, whereas the nonblind participants have 0% prevalence of the creases. The total prevalence of palmar creases of the blind and nonblind participants was shown, and the simian crease had 0.0% prevalence in the blind and in the nonblind participants. Suwon crease had 2.8% prevalence in the blind and 0.8% in the nonblind participants. Sydney crease had 0.6% prevalence in the blind, but 0.0% prevalence in the nonblind participants. Comparison of the prevalence of the Suwon and Sydney creases in the blind and nonblind was shown to be statistically nonsignificant (P > 0.05), whereas it was significant for simian crease on comparison with the blind and nonblind (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The study has shown that there is no significant difference in the prevalence of Suwon and Sydney crease (P < 0.05), whereas there is a significant difference in the simian crease between the blind and nonblind compared. This study has provided information on the prevalence of palmar creases in people with idiopathic blindness and the nonblind people in Nigeria and by extension the Sub-Saharan Africa.

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