Throughout his life, every person encounters diseases of various etiologies. Some arise as a result of pathogens entering the organs and systems of the body, other diseases develop due to long-term work associated with constant stress on the joints, as well as mechanical injuries and infections that affect bone and cartilage tissue. Many older people notice crooked fingers. In this case, most of the ailments that cause this defect are associated with acquired factors. If a baby is born and the curvature of the joint capsules is noticeable from the first days, then the reason lies in hereditary genes. If necessary, you should contact a specialist to correct the situation. Some defects can be eliminated; in severe cases, the work of the limbs can only be made easier, while visible defects will remain. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to find out the cause of this deviation.
Why does deformation of fingers occur?
Traumatic injuries
The following injuries cause deformation of the fingers:
- Injury.
The finger swells and there is moderate pain on palpation and movement. All symptoms gradually disappear after 1-2 weeks. - Fracture.
The change in shape is associated with swelling or displacement of fragments. In the latter case, shortening and axial curvature are detected. The pain is intense, the function of the hand is sharply reduced, sometimes crepitus and pathological mobility are detected. - Dislocation.
The finger is severely deformed in the joint area, movements are impossible. Severe pain syndrome is noted. - Subcutaneous tendon rupture.
Occurs when the end of a finger (usually the index finger) hits a hard surface. The distal phalanx bends, the finger takes on a hook shape, and active extension is impossible. - Frostbite.
Due to significant swelling, the fingers become sausage-shaped, and the hand sometimes resembles a pillow. Intense burning pain is observed.
Arthritis
Deformation of the fingers in the early stages occurs due to swelling, and subsequently due to destruction, erosion and fibrosis of the articular ends of bones and cartilage tissue. Features of the clinical picture are determined by the type of arthritis:
- Rheumatoid.
Most often, the metacarpophalangeal joints of the 2nd and 3rd fingers are affected; multiple arthritis is possible. The lesion is symmetrical. Involvement of distal joints is uncommon. - Psoriatic.
The defeat is asymmetrical. All joints of the finger are involved in the inflammatory process, which resembles a sausage due to swelling. The skin over the joints is purple-bluish. - Gouty.
The joints of the hands become inflamed more often in women. Possible oligo- or polyarthritis. The course is paroxysmal, intense pain is combined with swelling, hyperemia, and increased local temperature. - Juvenile rheumatoid.
Diagnosed in children under 16 years of age. The localization of inflammation is the same as in ordinary rheumatoid arthritis. - Nonspecific infectious.
It occurs in the form of polyarthritis. The deformity appears some time after an acute infection, is caused by edema, quickly disappears, and the osteochondral structures are not affected.
Arthrosis
Post-traumatic arthrosis affects one joint and can occur at any age. Changes gradually increase over several years, and deformation forms in the later stages. Multiple arthrosis of the hands and fingers develops in patients of the older age group, and is more often observed in the presence of a hereditary predisposition or during professional activities involving heavy load on the hands.
A special sign of arthrosis are Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes. The former are formed in the area of the distal interphalangeal joints, the latter - in the proximal ones. Heberden's nodes are often accompanied by lateral deviation, aggravating the deformity. With Bouchard's nodes, the fingers become fusiform due to thickening. There is a symmetrical lesion involving 10 or more joints.
Deformation of fingers
Developmental anomalies
Congenital malformations of the fingers can occur in isolation, combined with other stigmata of embryogenesis, or observed as part of syndromic pathologies:
- Ectrodactyly.
One or more fingers are underdeveloped. Due to the median splitting, the hand often resembles a crab claw. - Syndactyly.
There is complete or partial fusion of the fingers with each other. The shape and size of the fingers can be preserved (simple form of the disease) or changed (complex syndactyly). - Brachydactyly.
One or more phalanges are shortened. A combination with syndactyly, rotation of the phalanges around an axis, changes in the shape of the nail plate, and underdevelopment of the metacarpal bones is possible. - Polydactyly.
The patient’s hand has additional full-fledged, bifurcated, or vestigial fingers. - Clinodactyly.
The fingers are curved, the axis of the fingers does not coincide with the axis of the hand. The disorder is symmetrical, affecting the little or little fingers and ring fingers. - Arachnodactyly.
The fingers are long, thin, characteristically curved. The deformity is combined with other skeletal changes and, as a rule, is part of syndromic pathologies: homocystinuria, Marfan syndrome, ectopic lens, dissection and dilatation of the aorta.
Hereditary syndromes
Finger deformities are observed in a large number of diseases caused by random mutations, aneuploidies, and genetic abnormalities. Alternation or combination of several defects is detected in the following syndromes:
- Andersen's syndrome:
brachydactyly, clinodactyly, sometimes syndactyly. - Cornelia de Lange syndrome:
syndactyly, clinodactyly, reduction in the number of fingers. - Poland syndrome:
syndactyly, brachydactyly on the affected side. - Kabuki syndrome.
It is distinguished by particularly pronounced polymorphism. Brachydactyly, syndactyly, arachnodactyly, clinodactyly are possible.
There are a number of hereditary diseases that are characterized by one specific congenital anomaly of the fingers:
- Clinodactyly
. Affects the little fingers of the hands and is observed in cry-the-cat, Russell-Silver, and Down syndromes. - Brachydactyly
. Found in diastrophic dysplasia, Aarskog-Scott and Noonan syndromes. - Syndactyly
. Identified in patients with Pfeiffer syndrome. For Van der Woude syndrome, a combination of syndactyly with underdevelopment of 1 finger is typical, for Apert syndrome - partial or complete fusion of 2, 3 and 4 fingers, possibly with one common nail.
In patients with Fanconi anemia, the absence or underdevelopment of the thumb is determined, in patients with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome - congenital expansion of the phalanges of the fingers, especially the first. In other cases, deformities are not observed from the moment of birth, but are formed during the patient’s life:
- Ollier's disease.
Acquired enlargement, thickening due to the growth of cartilage tissue. - Thiemann's disease.
Asymmetrical aseptic necrosis of the phalanges of 2-3 fingers. There is a fusiform thickening, then shortening of the distal phalanges, deformation of the interphalangeal joints. - Progeria.
Deformations are caused by early aging of the body, the development of osteoarthritis - Mucopolysaccharidosis.
The first symptom of the disease is acquired flexion contractures. - Friedreich's ataxia.
Disturbances in the shape of the hands are associated with paresis and muscle atrophy. - Pseudohypoparathyroidism.
The phalanges shorten and bend due to the destruction of bone tissue.
Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy
GLOA (Marie-Bamberger disease) develops in many chronic inflammatory and oncological diseases. The nail phalanges take on the shape of “drumsticks”, the nails become like “watch glasses”. GLOA is more often detected in patients older than 40-50 years. Possible reasons are:
- Neoplastic processes
: peripheral lung cancer, esophageal cancer, thyroid cancer, lymphogranulomatosis, mediastinal sarcoma, pleural mesothelioma, metastases to the mediastinum. - Diseases of the lungs and pleura
: pleural empyema, lung abscess, chronic pneumonia, bronchiectasis, fibrosing alveolitis. - Cardiac pathologies
: infective endocarditis, “blue” heart defects. - Gastrointestinal diseases
: nonspecific ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, chronic hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis.
Sometimes changes occur with cystic fibrosis and hyperthyroidism. There is also pachydermoperiostosis (primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy), in which similar hand deformities are caused by an autosomal recessive hereditary pathology, and are not caused by severe disorders of the internal organs.
Other reasons
Other possible causes of symptoms include the following:
- Felon.
Significant swelling is noted; in deep forms, the outcome is often severe deformities caused by bone defects and joint damage. - Syringomyelia.
The fingers thicken, the skin becomes dry and rough. - Chinga.
Initially, the deformity is provoked by swelling of the joint, which may result in osteoarthritis and ankylosis. - Chondroma.
Often occurs in the area of the phalanges. Grows slowly over several years. - Rickets.
Thickening of the interphalangeal joints (“strings of pearls”) is detected. - Paresis, paralysis
. The fingers become deformed due to disturbances in innervation, atrophy, and the predominance of traction of some muscle groups over others.
Arthrosis
It is a chronic degenerative-dystrophic disease of the joints, in which destruction of cartilage occurs, the development of pathological changes in the capsule, ligamentous apparatus, synovial membrane, and nearby bone structures. The main reason for the development of arthrosis is a violation of metabolic processes. The pathology manifests itself as severe pain, stiffness in the morning, and limited mobility. In the absence of timely treatment, the pathology causes deformation of the hands and curvature of the little finger. Crooked fingers are very unsightly.
Diagnostics
Determination of the pathology that causes deformation of the fingers is carried out by orthopedic traumatologists. According to indications, patients are referred to rheumatologists, surgeons, neurologists, and other specialists. The most commonly performed diagnostic procedures are:
- Questioning, inspection
. During the conversation, the doctor establishes the time and circumstances of the occurrence of the symptom, and identifies other disorders. Explores the dynamics of disease development. Determines the nature and severity of external changes, the presence of edema, skin color and temperature, joint mobility. - Radiography
. Pictures of the fingers or hand are taken in two projections. Radiographs visualize dislocations, fractures, disturbances in the configuration of the phalanges, neoplasms, signs of inflammation and degeneration, and areas of bone melting. - , MRI
. Recommended when X-ray examination is insufficiently informative. They allow you to detail the identified changes, accurately determine their location, nature and volume, choose the optimal tactics of conservative therapy, and plan surgical intervention. - Lab tests
. Required to confirm hereditary diseases, oncological and inflammatory processes, rheumatic diseases.
The examination plan for secondary osteoarthropathy depends on the characteristics of the underlying pathology. During the diagnostic process, chest X-ray, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, echocardiography, and other techniques may be prescribed.
Surgical correction of finger deformities
Diabetes
One of the complications of this pathology is neuropathy, which is manifested by damage to the nerve endings in the extremities. As a result, they experience a decrease in sensitivity. That is why a person does not pay attention if his shoes rub or something hurts his foot, he does not feel injuries or cuts. Dirt can penetrate into such wounds, after which the process of inflammation develops. That is, deformation of the fingers can be a consequence of neuropathy. Why else can your fingers become crooked?
Treatment
Pre-hospital assistance
In case of injuries or inflammatory processes, an elevated position of the limb is indicated. Cold is applied to fractures and dislocations, the fingers are fixed with a splint or bandaged to each other. Victims with frostbite are given warming bandages. To reduce the severity of pain, an analgesic is given. In case of exacerbation of chronic inflammation, local agents are used.
Conservative therapy
Patients with injuries are reduced and immobilized with a plaster cast. In case of subcutaneous tendon rupture, the finger is fixed in a state of hyperextension. In case of frostbite, dressings are performed. The treatment plan may include the following conservative measures:
- Protective mode
. Indicated for patients with injuries, arthrosis, and arthritis during exacerbation. It is recommended to limit the load on the limb, and in some cases, orthopedic devices. - Drug therapy
. NSAIDs are most often prescribed. The list of other medications used includes antibiotics, hormonal drugs, and drugs to improve blood circulation. In some cases, blockades with a mixture of local anesthetics and corticosteroids are effective. - Non-drug methods
. Physiotherapy, massage, exercise therapy, kinesio taping, and manual therapy are used.
Patients with syndromic hereditary pathology, diseases of internal organs accompanied by osteoarthropathy, are treated for the underlying disease.
Methods for solving the problem
Most diseases cannot be cured, you can only alleviate the general condition and increase performance. If rhizarthrosis is diagnosed at the initial stage, then chondroprotectors are used in combination with vitamins, massage procedures, and rubbing. Regardless of the type of illness, in severe cases, drugs such as Mavalis, Nimesulide, as well as glucocorticosteroids are allowed. It is important to use devices such as ultrasound, electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, and laser therapy. If treatment does not show positive results, then endoprosthesis replacement of the damaged finger is performed. Panaritium is easily treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. Treatment of gout includes a whole range of measures, based primarily on proper nutrition, drug therapy, physiotherapy, and local medications. Arthritis and arthrosis require a similarly comprehensive approach, which is prescribed directly by a doctor based on the collected tests.
The above diseases pose a danger to human health. Many ailments that manifest themselves as deformities on the hands cause damage to health inside the body. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the pathology in a timely manner, avoiding advanced variants.
Rheumatoid arthritis
It is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that affects joint structures. Any joint can become inflamed, but most often the small joints of the feet and hands are susceptible to pathology. Periodically, the disease worsens against the background of climate change, hypothermia, trauma, psycho-emotional stress, physical activity, infections, and concomitant pathologies. Often the development of rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied by damage to internal organs.
Crooked toes are usually the result of various pathologies:
- Atherosclerotic changes in the lower extremities. Atherosclerosis of the veins of the lower extremities is a pathology in which blood flow in the legs is completely or partially blocked. The reason for this phenomenon is blockage of blood vessels with blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques. As the pathology progresses, narrowing or complete blockage of the arteries occurs. As a result, the blood supply to the legs deteriorates, pain appears in the calves when walking, discomfort occurs at night, and the little finger becomes deformed. Why do you still have crooked toes?
- Flat feet. The foot of people with this disease lengthens, causing the flexor muscles to begin to overpower the extensor muscles. As a result, the tendons become even tighter and cause deformation of the fingers. Crossed fingers with flat feet are a common occurrence.
- Gout. It is a chronic progressive pathology, which is characterized by disturbances in purine metabolism, excess uric acid in the blood, recurrent arthritis, and deposition of uric acid salts in tissues. In the vast majority of cases, gout affects the joints of the thumbs and index fingers, and less commonly, the joints of the knee and ankle. Gout is accompanied by severe sharp pain in the affected joint, the development of severe swelling, and the appearance of redness. As the pathology develops, persistent curvature of the joints occurs and motor volume is impaired.
Psoriatic arthritis
It is a chronic joint disease that develops against the background of psoriasis. The pathology is characterized by asymmetrical damage to the joints, pronounced phenomena of secondary osteoarthritis, focal bone compactions, and marginal growths. During the development of the disease, a person often experiences subluxations and dislocations of the affected joints, and immobility of the distal joints between the phalanges of the toes and hands develops. In severe forms of the disease, bending of the toes behind each other is common.