Abstract
Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune connective tissue disorder that often affects the hands. Manifestations in the hands include calcium deposits within the soft tissues that cause pain and may ulcerate through the skin, digital ischemia resulting in chronic wounds and digital gangrene, and joint contracture. Because of the underlying disease, patients with scleroderma have poorly vascularized tissue and a deficient soft tissue envelope, which make surgery particularly challenging. However, when undertaken with care, surgical intervention is often the best option for addressing the disabling hand conditions that so often accompany this disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Journal | Journal of Hand Surgery |
DOIs | |
State | Accepted/In press - Jan 1 2018 |
Keywords
- calcinosis
- contracture
- Raynaud's
- Scleroderma
- vasculopathy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine