Atrophy of the interosseous muscles of the hand with hyperextension of the metacarpophalangeal joints and flexion of the interphalangeal joints; develops as a result of nerve injury either at the spinal cord or peripheral nerve level.
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claw·hand (klawґhand) flexion and atrophy of the hand and fingers; it occurs in lesions of the ulnar nerve, in leprosy, and in syringomyelia. Called also main en griffe.Medical dictionary. 2011.