Clubbing of the fingers or toes

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Clubbing

Clubbed fingers

Overview

Treatment

Clubbing of the fingers or toes

Alternative Names:

Clubbing

Home Care:

There is no specific treatment for the clubbing itself. Home care depends on the specific diagnosis.

Call your health care provider if:

If you notice clubbing, call your health care provider.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

A person with clubbing generally has other symptoms and signs that define a specific condition. Diagnosis of that condition is based on family history, medical history, and a physical exam that looks at the lungs and chest.

Medical history questions may include:

When did you first notice this?
Does it affect the fingers, toes, or both?
Has it been becoming more noticeable?
What other symptoms are also present?
Is there any breathing difficulty?
Is the skin ever bluish colored?

The following tests may be done:

Chest x-ray
Chest CT scan
EKG
Echocardiogram
Arterial blood gas
Pulmonary function tests

References:

Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo; WB Saunders; 2005:78-79.

Murray J, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000:506.

Spicknall KE. Clubbing: an update on diagnosis, differential diagnosis, pathophysiology, and clinical relevance. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005; 52(6): 1020-8

Review Date: 2/14/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, CriticalCare & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.