Claw hand is a finger deformity, mostly seen in the ring and little fingers. The condition, as the name suggests, makes the fingers look like the claws of a bird.
Claw hand causes loss of sensation and numbness, leading to a reduction in grip strength. Those who suffer from the condition have trouble opening their hands completely and struggle to perform daily activities. Things get worse when the dominant hand is affected.
Dr Rohit Babu Mula, senior plastic surgeon at Kamineni Hospitals, Hyderabad, who recently treated a 23-year-old man for claw hand, narrates the case to illustrate the plight.
“The 23-year-old man was unable to even hold a bottle, as he lost his grip,” says Dr Mula. “He had sustained trauma at the wrist joint due to a cut in the ulnar nerve [which controls muscles that help in flexing and extending the fingers].”
What causes claw hand?
The most common cause for claw hand is ulnar nerve injury, which causes a loss of sensory and motor functions. At that point, the fingers tend to bend and be stuck in the shape of a claw.
Trauma due to an accident, injury or at the time of birth (which may have caused nerve compression) could cause claw hand. Brachial plexus injury (which causes damage to the network of nerves that carries signals from the upper parts of the spinal cord to your shoulder, arm and hand), cubital tunnel syndrome (which occurs when ulnar nerve gets compressed inside the elbow), infections (like leprosy), tumors arising from ulnar nerves and osteoarthritis of the elbow are the other causes.
Treatment of Claw hand
Treatment of claw hand depends on the cause. The deformity is not evident and hence missed in the initial months. It is important to address it and consult a doctor when the early signs and symptoms appear.
“People need to consult a doctor during the initial stage of the condition as it helps doctors to understand the cause,” says Dr Ananya Puttaraju, orthopedic surgeon from Bengaluru, India. “The earlier the doctor interferes, the easier it is to reverse the condition. For instance, treating the nerve depends on how long it was being compressed. The sooner the nerve decompresses, the faster it will recover.”
A person suffering from claw hand should keep these factors in mind while going through the treatment process:
- They should be vigilant and keep their joints supple through physiotherapy.
- The use of splints is also recommended. This helps to keep the fingers straight.
- They should avoid touching hot objects as it can burn their fingers without them realising.
- They should not leave their hand open (should be wrapped).
Dr Mula admits that the treatment he administered led to a quick recovery because the 23-year-old approached him in the early stage of the condition.
“After analysing his condition, we opted for surgical method where we took the nerve from his legs and joined it with both ends of the affected nerve in the hand,” says Dr Mula. “After two months of the treatment, he was able to hold objects and managed to write his exams as well.”
The treatment methods for claw hand include:
- Nerve repair: It is a process through which a segment of nerve tissue is taken from one hand to replace the damaged nerve in the other.
- Tendon transfer: It is a process through which tendon from another functioning part of the hand is transferred to the affected fingers. This procedure helps to regain the lost function.
Takeaways
- Claw hand is a finger deformity which makes the fingers look like the claws of a bird.
- A person with claw hand, which is caused by many reasons including nerve compression or trauma due to an accident, should consult a doctor as soon as the symptoms become evident.
- Symptoms of claw hand include loss of sensation, numbness, lack of grip and difficulty in opening the hand.
- Claw hand can be treated through nerve repair or tendon transfer.
