Claw Hand, or 'Spinster's Claw #medical article #anatomy

An ulnar claw, also known as claw hand, or 'Spinster's Claw' is an abnormal hand position that develops due to a problem with theulnar nerve. A hand in ulnar claw position will have the 4th and 5th fingers drawn towards the back of the hand at the first knuckle and curled towards the palm at the second and third knuckles.

Some sources incorrectly refer to the ulnar claw as a "hand of benediction"^[1] or "pope's blessing".^[2] However, the term "hand of benediction" or "pope's blessing" more commonly refers to a similar hand position which is caused by damage to the median nerve^[3][4]and is only present when the patient is asked to make a fist.

Presentation

The hand will show hyper-extension of the metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP) and flexion of the distal and proximal Interphalangeal (IP) joints of the 4th and 5th digits (ring and little finger).^[5] The clawing will become most obvious when the person is asked to flex the digits from an extended position as the 4th and 5th digits can not flex due to the injury to the ulnar nerve. 1st, 2nd and 3rd digits will partially flex giving them a "claw-like" appearance, this happens because the Thenar muscles (Abductor pollicis brevis, Flexor Pollicis brevis and Opponens pollicis) are innervated by the median nerve as the first two lumbricals of digit 2 and 3 are. (The image relates to hand of papal benediction due to damage to median nerve)

Patients exhibiting an ulnar claw are also very frequently unable to spread (abduct) or pull together (adduct) the fingers against resistance. This occurs because the ulnar nerve also innervates the palmar and dorsal interossei of the hand. Patients with this deficit will become increasingly easy to identify over time as the paralyzed first dorsal interosseous muscle atrophies, leaving a prominent hollowing between the thumb and forefinger.

Pathogenesis

An ulnar claw may follow an ulnar nerve lesion^[6] which results in the partial or complete denervation of the ulnar (medial) two lumbricals of the hand. Since the ulnar nerve also supplies the 3rd and 4th lumbricals, which flex the MCP joints (aka the knuckles), their denervation causes these joints to become extended by the now unopposed action of the long finger extensors (namely the extensor digitorum and the extensor digiti minimi). The lumbricals and interossei also extend the IP (interphalangeal) joints of the fingers by insertion into the extensor hood; their paralysis results in weakened extension. The combination of hyperextension at the MCP and flexion at the IP joints gives the hand its claw like appearance.^[7]

Ulnar paradox

The ulnar nerve also innervates the ulnar (medial) half of the flexor digitorum profundus muscle (FDP). If the ulnar nerve lesion occurs more proximally (closer to the elbow), the flexor digitorum profundus muscle may also be denervated. As a result, flexion of the IP joints is weakened, which reduces the claw-like appearance of the hand.^[8] (Instead, the fourth and fifth fingers are simply paralyzed in their fully extended position.) This is called the "ulnar paradox" because one would normally expect a more proximal and thus debilitating injury to result in a more deformed appearance.

Simply put, as reinnervation occurs along the ulnar nerve after a high lesion, the deformity will get worse (FDP reinnervated) as the patient recovers - hence the use of the term "paradox". A simple way to remember this is: 'the closer to the Paw, the worse the Claw'.

Ulnar nerve symptoms

The ulnar nerve runs from the shoulder to the hand, and damage to it results in the Ulnar claw. It is linked to palsy, which is a result of peripheral neuropathy. There is a range of ways that damage to the nerve can occur. Leaning on the elbow can lead to long-term wear and tear due to the prolonged pressure of the weight of the upper body. Symptoms resulting from leaning on the nerve can include numbness and tingling fingers.

Daily Activities lead to Ulnar Claw

Common occupations such as cyclist, motorcyclist, and desk jobs prolong movement and elbow leaning. These activities involve pressure to the palms, which leads to cumulative damage to the nerve.^[9] When using a pizza cutter or similar hand tools which require downward pressure during use, applying upper body weight to push down on the tool over time can cause damage to the nerve.^[10]

Risk in Gender and BMI

95% of Women with a BMI less than a 22.0 have a higher risk of damaging their nerve due to the lack of adipose “cushion”, but those who have a higher BMI also have greater pressure on their elbow when leaning on it simply due to the higher weight.^[11] When using gym equipment men statistically are at greater risk because of the higher musclestrength compared to women. Greater pressure over the nerve increases with hand usage.

Treatment

Treatments excluding surgery can include chiropractic, physical therapy and occupational therapy rehabilitation. Range of motion can be regained by using hand splints to stretch the impaired hand and to prevent overstretching. Using splints will initiate flexion in the metacarpophalangeal joints while also allowing extensions and flexion in the interphalangeal joints, thus increasing range of motion.

Beneficial exercise will be any that strengthens the interosseous muscles and lumbricals. By exercising individual fingers and thumb in adduction and abduction motion inpronation position, interosseous] muscles will gain strength. Exercises to strengthen lumbricals, strengthen flexion in the metacarpophalangeal joint, and extension in the interphalangeal joints are beneficial. Repetitive motion of pronation and supination are also effective exercises for rehabilitation. Exercising pronation and supination with a handle or screwdriver attachment will help stimulate the nerves. A lateral pinch and recurring grip can also be applied for supination and pronation.

Prevention

Preventive therapy is recommended to preserve the function of the fingers. This may include physical exercise, stretching, proper bodily function and myofascial release (massage, foam roller). Exercises are focused on the forearm muscles, such as the extensor carpi ulnaris; extensor digitorum to antagonize the flexion of the fingers.

Massaging the forearm muscles also alleviates the tightness that occurs with muscles exertion. Stretching allows the muscles more flexibility, decreasing interference with the innervations of the ulnar nerve to the fingers.

Main article: Hand of benediction

The so-called "Hand of Benediction" is caused by median nerve lesions. The hand will show hyper-extension of the metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP) from the unopposedextensor digitorum as well as weakened extension and flexion of the Interphalangeal (IP) joints of the 2nd and 3rd digits (index and middle) due to deficits in the radiallumbricals and lateral half of the flexor digitorum profundus. The pathogenesis is similar to that of ulnar clawing (loss of the relevant lumbricals and the flexor digitorum profundus along with unopposed action of forearm extensors), and a median claw hand will appear similar to an ulnar claw when the patient with a median claw is asked to make a fist.

The following signs may be used to clinically distinguish median nerve clawing from ulnar nerve clawing.

Ulnar nerve	Median nerve
Deficit is primarily in 4th and 5th fingers	Deficit is primarily in 2nd and 3rd fingers.
Deficit is most prominent at rest and when the patient is asked to extend his fingers.	Deficit is most prominent when the patient is asked to make a fist.
Often accompanied by inability to abduct or adduct the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th finger.	Often accompanied by difficulty opposing the thumb.
Often accompanied by apparent atrophy of the first dorsal interosseous muscle of the hand	Often accompanied by wasting of muscles of the thenar eminence

Dupuytren's contracture

Main article: Dupuytren's contracture

Dupuytren's contracture is a deformity of the hand due to thickening and fibrosis of the palmar aponeurosis and eventual contracture of the 4th and 5th digits. Presenting as a small hard nodule in the base of the ring finger, it tends to affect the ring and little finger as puckering and adherence of the palmar aponeurosis to the skin. Eventually the MCP and IP joints of the 4th and 5th digits become permanently flexed. This claw appearance can be distinguished from an ulnar claw in that the MCP is flexed in Dupuytren’s buthyperextended in ulnar nerve injuries.

Klumpke paralysis

Main article: Klumpke paralysis

A claw hand can result of injuries to the inferior brachial plexus (C8 - T1). The condition may arise from the limb being suddenly pulled upward. For example, Klumpke paralysiscan occur from excessive pulling of the infant's forelimb during parturition.