U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Upper-limb joint contracture

MedGen UID:
413001
•Concept ID:
C2750635
•
Anatomical Abnormality; Finding
Synonym: Contractures of the joints of the upper limbs
 
HPO: HP:0100360

Definition

A limitation in the passive range of motion of a joint of the upper limb resulting from loss of elasticity in the periarticular tissues owing to structural changes of non-bony tissues, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules or skin. [from HPO]

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Boutonniere Versus Pseudoboutonniere Deformities: Pathoanatomy, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
Hanson ZC, Thompson RG, Andrews JR, Lourie GM
J Hand Surg Am 2023 May;48(5):489-497. Epub 2022 Dec 31 doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2022.10.019. PMID: 36593154
The Pathogenesis and Treatment of the Stiff Finger.
Wang ED, Rahgozar P
Clin Plast Surg 2019 Jul;46(3):339-345. Epub 2019 Apr 19 doi: 10.1016/j.cps.2019.02.007. PMID: 31103078
Tetraplegia Management Update.
Fridén J, Gohritz A
J Hand Surg Am 2015 Dec;40(12):2489-500. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.06.003. PMID: 26537454

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Tenolysis and Salvage Procedures.
Cholok D, Burgess J, Fox PM, Chang J
Hand Clin 2023 May;39(2):203-214. Epub 2023 Feb 14 doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2022.08.021. PMID: 37080652
Can the early use of botulinum toxin in post stroke spasticity reduce contracture development? A randomised controlled trial.
Lindsay C, Ispoglou S, Helliwell B, Hicklin D, Sturman S, Pandyan A
Clin Rehabil 2021 Mar;35(3):399-409. Epub 2020 Oct 11 doi: 10.1177/0269215520963855. PMID: 33040610Free PMC Article
Scleroderma of the Hand: Evaluation and Treatment.
Beldner S, Rabinovich RV, Polatsch DB
J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2020 Aug 15;28(16):e686-e695. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-19-00547. PMID: 32769717
Tetraplegia Management Update.
Fridén J, Gohritz A
J Hand Surg Am 2015 Dec;40(12):2489-500. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.06.003. PMID: 26537454
Therapy after injury to the hand.
Dorf E, Blue C, Smith BP, Koman LA
J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2010 Aug;18(8):464-73. doi: 10.5435/00124635-201008000-00003. PMID: 20675639

Diagnosis

Boutonniere Versus Pseudoboutonniere Deformities: Pathoanatomy, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
Hanson ZC, Thompson RG, Andrews JR, Lourie GM
J Hand Surg Am 2023 May;48(5):489-497. Epub 2022 Dec 31 doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2022.10.019. PMID: 36593154
Amyoplasia and distal arthrogryposis.
Griffet J, Dieterich K, Bourg V, Bourgeois E
Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2021 Feb;107(1S):102781. Epub 2020 Dec 13 doi: 10.1016/j.otsr.2020.102781. PMID: 33321243
Management of Joint Contractures in the Spastic Upper Extremity.
Wood KS, Daluiski A
Hand Clin 2018 Nov;34(4):517-528. doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2018.06.011. PMID: 30286966
The thrower's shoulder.
Kinsella SD, Thomas SJ, Huffman GR, Kelly JD 4th
Orthop Clin North Am 2014 Jul;45(3):387-401. doi: 10.1016/j.ocl.2014.04.003. PMID: 24975765
Therapy after injury to the hand.
Dorf E, Blue C, Smith BP, Koman LA
J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2010 Aug;18(8):464-73. doi: 10.5435/00124635-201008000-00003. PMID: 20675639

Therapy

Can the early use of botulinum toxin in post stroke spasticity reduce contracture development? A randomised controlled trial.
Lindsay C, Ispoglou S, Helliwell B, Hicklin D, Sturman S, Pandyan A
Clin Rehabil 2021 Mar;35(3):399-409. Epub 2020 Oct 11 doi: 10.1177/0269215520963855. PMID: 33040610Free PMC Article
Selective Neurectomy for the Spastic Upper Extremity.
Leclercq C
Hand Clin 2018 Nov;34(4):537-545. doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2018.06.010. PMID: 30286968
Advances in wrist arthroscopy.
Wolf JM, Dukas A, Pensak M
J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2012 Nov;20(11):725-34. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-20-11-725. PMID: 23118138
Therapy after injury to the hand.
Dorf E, Blue C, Smith BP, Koman LA
J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2010 Aug;18(8):464-73. doi: 10.5435/00124635-201008000-00003. PMID: 20675639
Amputations and prosthetics.
Pinzur MS
Chir Narzadow Ruchu Ortop Pol 1999;64(5):571-81. PMID: 10676021

Prognosis

Incidence and potential predictors of early onset of upper-limb contractures after stroke.
Matozinho CVO, Teixeira-Salmela LF, Samora GAR, Sant'Anna R, Faria CDCM, Scianni A
Disabil Rehabil 2021 Mar;43(5):678-684. Epub 2019 Jul 22 doi: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1637949. PMID: 31328966
Musculoskeletal hand involvement in systemic sclerosis.
Sandler RD, Matucci-Cerinic M, Hughes M
Semin Arthritis Rheum 2020 Apr;50(2):329-334. Epub 2019 Nov 9 doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2019.11.003. PMID: 31812353
Prevalence of scar contractures after burn: A systematic review.
Oosterwijk AM, Mouton LJ, Schouten H, Disseldorp LM, van der Schans CP, Nieuwenhuis MK
Burns 2017 Feb;43(1):41-49. Epub 2016 Sep 14 doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2016.08.002. PMID: 27639820
Management of knee deformities in children with arthrogryposis.
Lampasi M, Antonioli D, Donzelli O
Musculoskelet Surg 2012 Dec;96(3):161-9. Epub 2012 Aug 9 doi: 10.1007/s12306-012-0218-z. PMID: 22875688
The post-stroke hemiplegic patient. 1. a method for evaluation of physical performance.
Fugl-Meyer AR, Jääskö L, Leyman I, Olsson S, Steglind S
Scand J Rehabil Med 1975;7(1):13-31. PMID: 1135616

Clinical prediction guides

Paediatric Trigger-Locked Thumb.
Fernandes C, Dong K, Rayan G
J Hand Surg Asian Pac Vol 2022 Feb;27(1):2-9. Epub 2022 Feb 23 doi: 10.1142/S2424835522300018. PMID: 35193463
Incidence and potential predictors of early onset of upper-limb contractures after stroke.
Matozinho CVO, Teixeira-Salmela LF, Samora GAR, Sant'Anna R, Faria CDCM, Scianni A
Disabil Rehabil 2021 Mar;43(5):678-684. Epub 2019 Jul 22 doi: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1637949. PMID: 31328966
Upper limb congenital muscular hypertrophy and aberrant muscle syndrome in children.
Dahan E, Chaves C, Bachy M, Fitoussi F
J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2018 Sep;43(7):751-755. Epub 2018 May 14 doi: 10.1177/1753193418774459. PMID: 29759027
Claw finger.
Mentari A
Am J Occup Ther 1978 Jan;32(1):35-40. PMID: 629177
The post-stroke hemiplegic patient. 1. a method for evaluation of physical performance.
Fugl-Meyer AR, Jääskö L, Leyman I, Olsson S, Steglind S
Scand J Rehabil Med 1975;7(1):13-31. PMID: 1135616

Recent systematic reviews

Exposure to hand-arm vibrations in the workplace and the occurrence of hand-arm vibration syndrome, Dupuytren's contracture, and hypothenar hammer syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Gerger H, Søgaard K, Macri EM, Jackson JA, Elbers RG, van Rijn RM, Koes B, Chiarotto A, Burdorf A
J Occup Environ Hyg 2023 Jul;20(7):257-267. Epub 2023 May 11 doi: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2197634. PMID: 37000463
Effect of arthroscopic shoulder release on shoulder mobility and bone deformity following brachial plexus birth injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Massamba Vuvu T, Dorniol M, Le Nen D, Thépaut M, Brochard S, Pons C
J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2021 Oct;30(10):2428-2437. Epub 2021 Feb 7 doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2020.12.021. PMID: 33567353
Shoulder and elbow range of motion for the performance of activities of daily living: A systematic review.
Oosterwijk AM, Nieuwenhuis MK, van der Schans CP, Mouton LJ
Physiother Theory Pract 2018 Jul;34(7):505-528. Epub 2018 Jan 29 doi: 10.1080/09593985.2017.1422206. PMID: 29377745
Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy Interventions for Adults With Musculoskeletal Conditions of the Forearm, Wrist, and Hand: A Systematic Review.
Roll SC, Hardison ME
Am J Occup Ther 2017 Jan/Feb;71(1):7101180010p1-7101180010p12. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2017.023234. PMID: 28027038Free PMC Article
Prevalence of scar contractures after burn: A systematic review.
Oosterwijk AM, Mouton LJ, Schouten H, Disseldorp LM, van der Schans CP, Nieuwenhuis MK
Burns 2017 Feb;43(1):41-49. Epub 2016 Sep 14 doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2016.08.002. PMID: 27639820

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Consumer resources

    Reviews

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...