What is the characteristic hand position seen in Klumpke's Palsy?

Klumpke's Palsy is a type of brachial plexus injury that typically affects the lower trunk of the brachial plexus, which includes the C8 and T1 nerve roots. The resulting characteristic hand position associated with this condition is known as the "claw hand."

In claw hand, the affected individual often presents with an inability to fully extend the fingers, resulting in an appearance where the fingers curl inward. This occurs due to weakness or paralysis of the intrinsic muscles of the hand, particularly those innervated by the ulnar nerve, which are critical for maintaining normal finger extension. The intact extensors can hyper-extend at the metacarpophalangeal joints while the interphalangeal joints remain flexed, giving rise to the claw-like appearance.

This hand posture distinctly differentiates Klumpke's Palsy from other conditions, such as the "waiter's tip" position seen in Erb's Palsy, where there is an issue primarily with the upper trunk (C5-C6) leading to an inability to abduct the shoulder and flex the elbow. Similarly, a "drop hand" position is typically associated with radial nerve palsy, resulting in wrist drop rather than finger deformity.