Diabetic cheiroarthropathy
Waxy, thickened skin and limited finger joint mobility in diabetes.
Last updated
Diabetic cheiroarthropathy, also called diabetic stiff hand syndrome or limited joint mobility syndrome, is a cutaneous condition marked by waxy, thickened skin and restricted joint movement in the hands and fingers, often leading to flexion contractures. It is associated with diabetes mellitus and occurs in roughly 30% of patients with longstanding disease. The condition can serve as a predictor for other diabetes-related complications and was among the earliest known complications of diabetes.
Presentation
In the fingers, diabetic cheiroarthropathy can cause such severe limited mobility that the patient cannot fully extend the fingers to flatten the hand. Both hands are typically affected, with stiffness usually beginning in the little finger and spreading to the thumb. Smaller, more fragile joints are most often involved; larger joints are affected only in patients with more severe or advanced diabetes.
Did You Know?
- A classic diagnostic test is the prayer sign, where the patient cannot press the palmar surfaces of the interphalangeal joints and palms together with fingers fanned.
- The tabletop sign is positive when a person with diabetes cannot lay the palms and volar aspect of the fingers completely flat on a horizontal surface.
More in Skin Conditions Resulting from Errors in Metabolism
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Diabetic cheiroarthropathy (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced