While reviewing an x-ray of the fingers of a client, the nurse observes that the end of the bone is whittled down to a sharp point. Which musculoskeletal disorder does the nurse suspect in the client?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Psoriatic arthritis can cause bone changes, including the phenomenon known as "pencil-in-cup" deformity, where the end of the bone is tapered to a sharp point, resembling a pencil that has been sharpened on both ends. This is a characteristic finding in psoriatic arthritis but not typically seen in Lyme disease, ankylosing spondylitis, or Pott's disease.

While Reviewing an X-Ray of the Fingers of a Client