Acquired Hand Deformities (Subscribe)  

Clinical and x-ray images of hands, fingers and thumbs affected by rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis has many forms of presentation. This patient has bilateral severe radiocarpal and distal radioulnar joint involvement, with relative sparing of the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints.

There are many methods to fuse interphalangeal joints. In this case, a Herbert screw was used for arthrodesis fixation of an unstable thumb interphalangeal joint. This case also demonstrates the eponychial splitting approach to the joint.

Boutonnière deformity (BD) can manifest acutely following trauma, but most BDs are found weeks following the injury or as the result of progressive arthritis. The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint of the finger is flexed, and the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint is hyperextended (see Image 1). Treatment options depend partly on...

Among the many osseous abnormalities that may be seen in Rheumatoid Arthritis, the boutonniere deformity is the culmination of multiple abnormalities in the hand. Specifically, the deformity arises from hyperextension of the distal interphalangeal joint, while the proximal interphalangeal joint is flexed.

Account of anatomy, nerve supply and injuries to the hand resulting in instrinsic deformity.
Synonyms and related keywords: claw hand deformity, claw-hand deformity, clawhand deformity, contractures of the hand, extrinsic tightness, Froment sign, Froment's sign, hand contractures, hand therapy, intrinsic muscles of the hand, intrinsic tightness test, median nerve injury,...

The intrinsic plus position is otherwise known as the safe position for hand splinting. The hand can be immobilized in this position for long periods of time without developing as much stiffness as would occur if the digits were positioned differently. In the intrinsic plus position, the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints...

Loss of extensor tendon continuity at the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) causes the joint to rest in an abnormally flexed position. This occurs with a laceration to the dorsum of the digit near the DIPJ. Mallet finger describes the condition in which the skin remains closed and the extensor tendon...

The term mallet finger has long been used to describe the deformity produced by disruption of the terminal extensor mechanism at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint.1, 2, 3 Mallet finger is the most common closed tendon injury that is seen in athletes; this injury is also common in nonathletes after...

Upper extremity involvement in cerebral palsy interferes with optimal use of the hands. Contractures of the elbows, for example, may interfere with the ability to position the hands in space. Mild to moderate wrist contractures may interfere with grasp and release and limit use of the affected hand as an...

Stiffness of the fingers is a common problem following either closed or open injury. The moving parts of fingers are often glued together by scar tissue following injury, and if movement can not be recovered through therapy and time, and if all other conditions are favorable (wound maturation, patient motivation,...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease that affects synovial tissue. The disease affects approximately 1% of the population, has a female predominance (female-to-male ratio of 2.5:1), and shows increased incidence with age.1 The clinical course of the disease is variable and ranges from mild, self-limited arthritis to a progressive...

Structural deformities of the digits of the hand are common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A swan-neck deformity, typically defined as proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint hyperextension with concurrent distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint flexion, occurs in approximately 50% of patients with RA. However, swan-neck deformity is not unique to RA,...

Clinical images of Boutonniere Deformity

Clinical and x-ray images of fingers with swan neck deformity