Hand conditions as sequelae of infection with COVID-19: a literature review.

J Hand Surg Eur Vol · Feb 2024 · Review

Koo KK, Morris J, Ansari SA, Younis F

Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, UK

Hand & Upper Extremity

SUMMARY — THE REDUCTIONThis review of 20 studies links COVID-19 infection/vaccination to various hand pathologies including reactive/rheumatoid arthritis, myositis, and carpal tunnel syndrome, though evidence remains limited.
Abstract, as published

Patients have attended our clinics with various hand pathologies after contracting COVID-19 or receiving vaccination. We postulate the virus stimulates a systemic inflammatory response that triggers these pathologies and conducted a search of the literature for associated conditions. Twenty publications were included for this review. Three studies identified skeletal muscle inflammation, and several identified reactive arthritis post-infection. Rheumatoid arthritis post-infection was also recognized, along with crystalline arthropathy. Carpal tunnel syndrome was seen in two cases. There is a current paucity in published scientific material regarding COVID-19 sequalae in the hand. This review aims to stimulate discussion in how a virus can induce pathological processes causing common hand pathologies.

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