Dactylitis (Sausage Fingers)

Dactylitis, also called “sausage fingers,” is a painful condition. It causes swelling and inflammation in fingers and toes. This swelling often happens in people with certain inflammatory diseases, making it hard to move and very uncomfortable.

It’s important to know the symptoms, causes, and treatments for dactylitis. If you notice your fingers or toes are swollen, see a doctor right away. This can help manage the pain and prevent more problems.

In this article, we’ll cover everything about dactylitis. We’ll look at what causes it, how to diagnose it, and the treatments available. Our goal is to help those with sausage fingers manage their condition better and live a better life.

What is Dactylitis (Sausage Fingers)?

Dactylitis, also known as “sausage fingers,” is a condition where fingers or toes swell and get inflamed. This swelling looks like a sausage, which is why it’s called that. It happens when the tissues around the small joints get inflamed, causing pain and stiffness.

The swelling in dactylitis covers the whole digit, from base to tip. It’s different from other joint inflammation because it affects not just the joints but also the tendons, ligaments, and soft tissues. This is why the affected fingers or toes look like sausages.

Dactylitis can be mild or severe and can affect one or more digits. The fingers most often affected are:

People with dactylitis also feel pain, tenderness, and stiffness in their fingers. The swelling can make it hard to move and do everyday tasks like writing or buttoning a shirt. It can really affect someone’s life and might mean there’s an underlying condition that needs medical help.

Causes of Dactylitis: Inflammatory Conditions and Beyond

Dactylitis, or sausage fingers, is a sign of several inflammatory conditions. These are mainly autoimmune disorders that affect joints and tissues. Knowing the causes helps in early diagnosis and treatment.

Psoriatic Arthritis and Dactylitis

Psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune disorder, often causes dactylitis. It happens when the immune system attacks healthy joint tissue. This leads to inflammation, swelling, and the sausage-like look of fingers or toes.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sausage Fingers

Dactylitis can also happen in people with rheumatoid arthritis. This autoimmune disorder mainly affects joints, causing inflammation, pain, and stiffness. When it affects the small joints of fingers or toes, it can cause sausage fingers.

Other Spondyloarthritis Conditions Linked to Digit Swelling

Other spondyloarthritis conditions can also cause dactylitis. These include:

• Ankylosing spondylitis: A chronic inflammatory condition that mainly affects the spine and sacroiliac joints. It can also involve peripheral joints, including those in the fingers and toes.
• Reactive arthritis: An inflammatory condition triggered by bacterial infections. It can cause joint pain, swelling, and sometimes dactylitis.
• Inflammatory bowel disease-associated arthritis: People with inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, may develop joint inflammation, including dactylitis.

Autoimmune disorders are the main causes of dactylitis. But, infections, injuries, or rarely, certain cancers can also cause sausage fingers. Getting a quick medical check-up is key for the right diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms of Dactylitis: Recognizing the Signs

Dactylitis, or sausage fingers, shows up in several ways. It affects the fingers and toes. Knowing these signs is key for quick diagnosis and treatment. If you see any of these symptoms, see a doctor to check if it’s dactylitis.

Swelling and Inflammation of Fingers and Toes

Swelling and inflammation in fingers and toes are clear signs of dactylitis. The digits look puffy and big, like sausages. This happens because the tendons and ligaments around the joints get inflamed.

The swelling can happen in one or more digits. Or, it can hit many fingers and toes at once.

Pain and Tenderness in Affected Digits

People with dactylitis also feel pain and tenderness in their digits. The inflammation makes joints hurt, making everyday tasks hard. The pain gets worse when moving or pressing on the swollen areas.

Stiffness and Limited Range of Motion

Dactylitis also causes stiffness and limits how far digits can move. Swelling and inflammation make joints stiff, making it hard to bend or straighten digits. This stiffness is more noticeable in the morning or after sitting for a while.

Doing gentle exercises and physical therapy can help. They can make joints more flexible and reduce stiffness.

The severity and how long dactylitis symptoms last can vary. Some people might just have mild swelling and discomfort. Others might have more serious and lasting symptoms. If you see swollen fingers, joint inflammation, digit swelling, or musculoskeletal pain, get medical help. They can give you a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Diagnosing Dactylitis: Medical Evaluation and Tests

If you notice dactylitis (sausage fingers) symptoms, getting a detailed medical check is key. Doctors will look at how much joint inflammation you have. They’ll figure out if an autoimmune disorder or something else is causing your fingers to swell.

Your doctor will start by doing a physical check. They’ll look at your fingers or toes for signs of swelling, tenderness, and stiffness. They might also ask about your health history and any other symptoms you’re feeling.

To help figure out what’s going on, your doctor might suggest some tests. Here are a few:

By looking at your physical exam, medical history, and test results, your doctor can tell if you have dactylitis. They can also find out what’s causing the joint inflammation. Knowing what you have helps your doctor create a treatment plan just for you. This plan aims to ease your symptoms and protect your joints.

Treatment Options for Dactylitis (Sausage Fingers)

Managing dactylitis, a condition with joint inflammation and swelling, needs a detailed plan. Each treatment is unique, based on the cause and how severe the symptoms are. The right mix of medicines and therapies can ease pain and stiffness, and protect joints from damage.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs are often the first choice for dactylitis. They reduce inflammation and pain in the fingers or toes. Here are some common NSAIDs:

Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)

For ongoing joint inflammation, DMARDs might be needed. These drugs slow down the disease and protect joints. Common DMARDs include methotrexate, sulfasalazine, and leflunomide.

Biologic Medications for Targeted Therapy

Biologic medications are considered when DMARDs don’t work. They target specific proteins causing inflammation. Examples include:

• TNF inhibitors (adalimumab, etanercept)
• IL-17 inhibitors (secukinumab, ixekizumab)
• IL-23 inhibitors (guselkumab, risankizumab)

Physical Therapy and Exercise for Joint Health

Medicine is just part of the solution. Physical therapy and exercise are also key. A physical therapist can teach exercises to improve mobility and strength. Low-impact activities like swimming or cycling help keep joints healthy without worsening symptoms.

Living with Dactylitis: Coping Strategies and Lifestyle Modifications

Living with dactylitis, also known as sausage fingers, can be tough. But, there are ways to manage it. Focusing on self-care, stress management, and a healthy lifestyle can help. This way, people with swollen fingers and joint inflammation can live better despite dactylitis.

Eating a balanced diet is key in managing dactylitis. Some foods can help reduce musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. Try adding these foods to your meals:

Regular exercise is also important for managing dactylitis. Low-impact activities like swimming, cycling, and yoga can help. They improve joint mobility, reduce stiffness, and ease musculoskeletal pain. Always listen to your body and avoid too much exercise, as it can make joint inflammation and swollen fingers worse.

Managing stress is also vital when living with dactylitis. Chronic stress can make inflammation worse and lead to flare-ups. Try stress-reducing activities like meditation, deep breathing, or hobbies that make you happy. Taking care of yourself and staying positive can help a lot with the emotional and physical challenges of sausage fingers.

The Connection Between Psoriasis and Dactylitis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that can cause more than just skin problems. It can lead to joint inflammation, known as psoriatic arthritis. This condition often results in dactylitis, or sausage fingers, causing swelling and pain in fingers and toes.

How Psoriasis Can Lead to Psoriatic Arthritis and Sausage Fingers

The exact cause of psoriatic arthritis is not fully known. But, it’s believed that an overactive immune system plays a big role. In psoriasis, the immune system attacks healthy skin cells, causing lesions. In psoriatic arthritis, it targets joints and tissues, causing inflammation and pain.

This inflammation can affect fingers and toes, leading to dactylitis or sausage fingers. The risk of getting psoriatic arthritis and dactylitis goes up with the severity and length of psoriasis. About 30% of people with psoriasis will get psoriatic arthritis.

Factors that increase the risk of psoriatic arthritis include:

Managing Skin and Joint Symptoms Simultaneously

When psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis happen together, treating both is key. Dermatologists and rheumatologists work together to create treatment plans. These plans aim to reduce inflammation in both the skin and joints.

Treatment options include:

• Topical medications: Creams and ointments to reduce skin inflammation and itching
• Systemic medications: Oral or injectable drugs that target the immune system to reduce inflammation throughout the body
• Phototherapy: Exposure to controlled amounts of ultraviolet light to improve skin and joint symptoms
• Physical therapy: Exercises and techniques to maintain joint flexibility and reduce pain and stiffness

By treating both skin and joint inflammation, healthcare providers can help manage symptoms. This approach prevents joint damage and improves quality of life for patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Dactylitis in Children: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Other Considerations

Dactylitis, or sausage fingers, can happen to kids and adults. In kids, it’s often due to juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). This is an autoimmune disorder that causes joint swelling. It’s important to spot the signs early to help kids get better fast.

When a kid’s fingers or toes swell, doctors have to think of many reasons. These include infections, injuries, and diseases like JIA. Finding out why a kid’s digits are swollen can be hard. Doctors use careful looks, tests, and blood work to figure it out.

Dealing with dactylitis in kids with JIA needs a team effort. Doctors use medicines to lessen pain and swelling. They might use NSAIDs and DMARDs. Physical and occupational therapy help keep joints moving well and prevent disability. It’s also key to support the child and their family, as living with JIA can be tough.

Healthcare providers should watch for dactylitis and other signs of rheumatic diseases. This helps kids with JIA get the right treatment quickly. With the right care and support, kids with dactylitis can live a happy and fulfilling life.