Claw hand

A hand imitating an ulnar claw. The metacarpophalangeal joints of the 4th and 5th fingers are extended and the Interphalangeal joints of the same fingers are flexed.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Claw hand is a condition that causes curved or bent fingers. This makes the hand appear like the claw of an animal. Claw hand can be something that someone is born with (congenital) or that they develop because of certain disorders, such as nerve injury.

Causes

Congenital abnormality
Leprosy
Nerve damage in the arm
Scarring after a severe burn of the hand or forearm

Diagnosis

The following tests may be performed:

Electromyography (EMG)
Nerve conduction studies

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause. It may include:

Splinting
Surgery to fix problems that may be contributing to the claw hand, such as nerve problems, tendon abnormalities, or scar tissue
Therapy to straighten the fingers

Source

Medline Plus [2]