Examinations of Hands/Arms

Question 1

General Exam

Answer 1

Hands

• Colour
• Joint movement/swelling

Nails

• Colour
• Splinter haemorrhages
• Pitting
• Leuconychia/Kolionychia
• Clubbing
• Cap refill

Palms

• Colour
• Temperature
• Palmar creases
• Muscle wasting
• Dupytrens contracture

Resp rate/HR
Tremors (resting/flapping)

Arms

• Joint deformity
• Abnormal pigmentation (bruising, rashes, spider naevi)
• Scars/wounds
• Track marks
• Skin turgor

Question 2

Head & Neck Exam

Answer 2

Hands
- Shape

Fingers

• Cyanosis
• Clubbing
• Leuconychia/Koilonychia
• Tar staining

Palms

• Temperature
• Muscle wasting
• Palmar erythema
• Pallor
• Pigmentation

Resp rate/HR
Tremor (resting)

Arms

• Abnormal pigmentation (bruising, petechiae, spider naevi, vitiligo)
• Scars/wounds
• Track marks
• Muscle wasting
• Skin turgor

Question 3

Neurological Limb Exam

Answer 3

Hands & Arms

• Scars
• Skeletal abnormalities
• Muscle wasting
• Fasciculations
• Tremor

Abnormal involuntary movements

Question 4

Abdominal Exam

Answer 4

Hands

• Arthropathy
• Leuconychia
• Koilonychia
• Clubbing
• Palmar erythema
• Palmar creases
• Dupytrens

Tremor

Arms

• Abnormal pigmentation (bruising, petechiae, spider naevi)
• Scratch marks/scars
• Muscle wasting
• Track marks
• Skin turgor