Definition
Sclerodactyly is a thickening of the skin of the fingers, such as to cause deformation. This sign is present in 90-95% of people with scleroderma.
In the presence of sclerodactyly, the skin of the fingers becomes taut, shiny and rigid, forcing the hand to assume a semi-bent position ( claw-like hands ). Sclerodactyly is generally accompanied by cyanosis, fibrosis and atrophy of the underlying soft tissues.
The wrist may also be affected by thickening and subcutaneous calcification (calcinosis), while the fingertips may undergo ulceration.
Sclerodactyly can also be found in the clinical picture of mixed connective tissue disease (a syndrome that combines the characteristics of scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and polymyositis-dermatomyositis).
Possible Causes * of Sclerodactyly
- Scleroderma
