Hand Pathologies

Question 1

What are the causes of Dupuytren’s contracture and what are the features of it?

Answer 1

Manual labour
Phenytoin treatment
Alcoholic liver disease
Trauma to the hand

One or more fingers are bent into the flexed position

Associated with liver cirrhosis and alcoholism

Question 2

What are the treatments of a Dupuytren’s contracture?

Answer 2

Fasciectomy
Collagenase injection
Needle fasciectomy

Question 3

What happens in carpel tunnel syndrome?

Answer 3

Median nerve neuropathy at the carpel tunnel
Altered sensation of the lateral three fingers
Wasting of the thenar eminence
Symptoms occur mainly at night

Question 4

How can you diagnose carpel tunnel syndrome?

Answer 4

Tinels test (lightly tapping over carpel tunnel area elicits pins and needles)
Electrophysiological studies

Question 5

What is the treatment of carpel tunnel syndrome?

Answer 5

Surgical decompression of the carpel tunnel through division of the flexor retinaculum

Question 6

What are the signs and symptoms of ulnar nerve palsy?

Answer 6

Neuropathy in the little finger and ulnar half of the ring finger
‘Ulnar claw’ will be seen
Loss of grip strength

Question 7

What happens in trigger finger?

Answer 7

‘Stenosing tenosynovitis’

Disorder characterised by catching or locking of the finger due to an inflamed tendon. Popping sound is made.

Question 8

What is the treatment of trigger finger?

Answer 8

Rest
Splinting the finger
NSAIDS
Steroid injections

Question 9

What happens in mallet finger?

Answer 9

Often, trauma (such as a ball hitting the tip of the finger) ruptures the tendon that straightens the finger.
Painful or swollen.

Treatment: 6-8 weeks