Mr Sooz has it - it is a genetic condition shared by both his dad and grandmother. He had his first operation 22 years ago this month and has had about seven more in the intervening years with some temporary success. The days following the surgery were extremely painful in every case, but more so when the operation was on the thumb. They put the hand in plaster while he was under the anaesthetic but unfortunately didn't give him another one three weeks later when they took it off (complete with embedded stitches.)
Playing the guitar every day is his physiotherapy and he has decided not to have any more surgery even though neither hand is remotely flat.