Signs of Systemic Illness in the Hand

Many systemic illnesses have characteristic signs that are apparent in the hand. Although these findings themselves may be subtle or benign, the potential underlying illnesses can have considerable and detrimental effects to the patient involved if left untreated. It is important for hand surgeons to be able recognize these signs, understand the associated conditions, and refer the patients to the appropriate specialty provider for work-up and treatment to manage the consequences of the systemic illness. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on notable clinical signs in the hand that could indicate an untreated systemic condition that all hand surgeons should be cognizant of to ensure early referral for treatment and improve the health of our patients.