In 1959, Archibald, Finlay, and De Vito were the first to describe a sign that depended on the relative lengths of the lateral three metacarpals (the metacarpal finding). When a line is drawn tangentially to the circumference of the heads (distal ends) of the fourth and fifth metacarpals, the extension of this line normally passes distally to the head of the third metacarpal and does not intersect the third metacarpal (negative metacarpal finding). In some hands such a line is tangential also to the circumference of the head of the third metacarpal (borderline metacarpal finding). In others the line runs through the distal end of the third metacarpal (positive metacarpal finding).