What it means
A change in the shape of the fingertips, and sometimes the toes. The ends of the fingers become wider and rounder, the nails curve down, and the normal angle between the nail and the skin of the finger (about 160 degrees) is lost. It develops slowly, over weeks to years, and is linked with long-term low oxygen levels in the blood, such as in some lung diseases, heart defects present from birth and cystic fibrosis.
For the nurse
Look at the nail angle from the side. The Schamroth test: place the nails of the same finger on each hand back to back; normally a small diamond-shaped gap shows, which is missing with clubbing.
At a glance
| Spanish | acropaquia, dedos en palillo de tambor |
|---|---|
| Also written | digital clubbing, clubbed fingers |