Hand Pain Diagnosis

Red Flags In Hand Pain Diagnosis

Red flags are findings in the physical exam and lab tests that warrant urgent medical attention. They can be signs of a severe condition and should be readily treated. The most important red flags in hand pain diagnosis include:

• Redness, pain, and swelling that start suddenly after stretching the hand and fingers, especially when it also has loss of function and muscle weakness of the hands.
• Not being able to extend or flex the hand or fingers actively, but the joint can move when passive pressure is applied.
• Pain in the fingertips with bluish discoloration of the fingers and cold intolerance. These cases can respond to severe circulatory conditions or glomus tumors.
• Lumps in the hand that expand rapidly can be a type of cancer known as sarcoma and require immediate medical assistance.
• When the imaging studies reveal bone destruction in the hands, metastasis should be ruled out, and a primary tumor should be detected.