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Claw hand
Ulnar nerve palsy - claw hand; Ulnar nerve dysfunction - claw hand; Ulnar claw
Claw hand is a condition that causes curved or bent fingers. This makes the hand appear like the claw of an animal.
Considerations
Someone can be born with claw hand (congenital), or they can develop it because of certain disorders, such as nerve injury.
Causes
Causes may include:
-
Congenital abnormality, such as from
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a group of disorders passed down through families that affect the nerves outside the brain and spine. These are calle...
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Nerve damage
in the arm
Nerve damage
Ulnar nerve dysfunction is a problem with the nerve that travels from the shoulder to the hand, called the ulnar nerve. It helps you move your arm, ...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Scarring after a severe burn of the hand or forearm
-
Rare infections, such as
leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy is an infectious disease that has been known since biblical times. This disease causes skin sores, nerve damage, and muscle weakness that ge...
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When to Contact a Medical Professional
If the condition is congenital, it is usually diagnosed at birth. If you notice claw hand developing, contact your health care provider.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
Your provider will examine you and look closely at your hands and feet. You will be asked questions about your medical history and symptoms.
The following tests may be done to check for nerve damage:
-
Electromyography (
EMG
) to check the health of the muscles and the nerves that control the muscles
EMG
Electromyography (EMG) is a test that checks the health of the muscles and the nerves that control the muscles.
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Nerve conduction studies
to check how fast electrical signals move through a nerve
Nerve conduction studies
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) is a test to see how fast electrical signals move through a nerve.
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Treatment depends on the cause. It may include:
- Splinting
-
Surgery to fix problems that may be contributing to the claw hand, such as nerve or tendon problems,
joint contractures
, or scar tissue
Joint contractures
A contracture develops when the normally stretchy (elastic) tissues are replaced by nonstretchy (inelastic) fiber-like tissue. This tissue makes it ...
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References
Davis TRC. Principles of tendon transfers of median, radial and ulnar nerves. In: Wolfe SW, Hotchkiss RN, Pederson WC, Kozin SH, Cohen MS, eds. Green's Operative Hand Surgery . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 31.
Sapienza A, Green S. Correction of the claw hand. Hand Clin . 2012;28(1):53-66. PMID: 22117924 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22117924 .
Review Date: 9/22/2016
Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
