diabetic cheiroarthropathy
Last reviewed 01/2018
- diabetic cheiroarthropathy is a term used to describe limited joint mobility in the hand - also termed diabetic hand syndrome, or digital scleroderma
- characterized by waxy skin-thickening over the dorsum of the hand with restricted mobility, particularly affecting extension of the metacarpophalangeal joints (MCPs), proximal interphalangeal joints (PIPs), and the fifth distal interphalangeal joint (DIP)
- may exhibit a positive 'prayer sign' , in that the patient will be unable to fully oppose the palmar surfaces of the digits
- an alternative test for diagnosing diabetic cheiroarthropathy is the 'table top' sign - in this 'test' the patient is unable to place their hand flat on a surface - both the 'prayer sign' and the 'table top' sign are good clinic screening tools, although goniometry remains the gold standard for documenting such restricted joint range
- other than improvement of diabetic control, there are few therapeutic options for this condition