The clinical and aetiological pattern of finger clubbing and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in Nigerians.

A study of the clinical and aetiological patterns of finger clubbing and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy was carried out over a 15-year period. 116 patients were studied. Pain is not a common symptom in patients with finger clubbing and osteoarthropathy in Nigerians, contrary to what has been reported in the literature. The cause of finger clubbing is predominantly pulmonary in origin, being responsible in 84 per cent of cases. The commonest cause in bronchiectasis, followed by empyema thoracis, bronchial carcinoma and lung abscess. Among the nonpulmonary causes are infective endocarditis, endomyocardial fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver. Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is found in 15 cent of the patients with finger clubbing, the commonest cause being carcinoma of the bronchus.