Knuckle pad

What it means

Knuckle pads are benign fibrofatty subcutaneous pads located over the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints that can be mistaken for arthritis. Rarely they affect the dorsal aspect of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints. Clinically they are painless and often affect both hands in an asymmetrical pattern.

Knuckle pads can be associated with camptodactyly (fixed flexion deformity of the interphalangeal joints of the little finger) as overlapping symptoms and are associated with many genetic factors. Although they can be associated to repetitive local trauma (for example repetitive batting of the knuckles, e.g. by boxers or suction the fingers by children), coexist with palmar (Dupuytren disease) or plantar fibromatosis (Ledderhose disease) or Peyronie disease, most knuckle pads are idiopathic.

Rare diseases that can present with this5

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: DDN · Dorsal dupuytren nodules · Knuckle pads on dorsal aspect of finger joints