The main difference between a pestle finger and a normal finger is the shape of the finger. Pestle refers to the thickening, growth, and enlargement of the end of the finger, while normal refers to the rounded, more pointed end of the finger.
Pestle finger refers to the obvious thickening and enlargement of the end of the finger, just like a mallet, so it is called pestle finger, which is manifested by the arching of the nail from the root to the end, so that the skin on the back of the end of the finger and the nail form a basal angle equal to or greater than 180°. Normal fingers have rounded ends and are more pointed.
Pestle finger is due to insufficient peripheral blood supply, hypoxia, and insufficient body compensation, resulting in compensatory connective tissue hyperplasia.
Pestle finger is common in respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, digestive system diseases, such as bronchiectasis, bronchopulmonary carcinoma, chronic lung abscess, pyothorax, as well as cyanotic congenital heart disease, subacute infective endocarditis, cirrhosis of the liver, ulcerative colitis and so on.
Specific treatment for pestle finger should be directed at the primary cause, consult the clinician for details.