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
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