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Clubbing is an enlargement of the tips of the fingers or toes and a change in the angle where the nails emerge.

Clubbing occurs when the amount of soft tissue beneath the nail beds increases. Why this increase occurs is not clear but may relate to the levels of proteins that stimulate blood vessel growth. Clubbing seems to occur with some lung disorders (lung cancer, lung abscess, bronchiectasis), but not with others (pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Clubbing also occurs with some congenital heart disorders and liver disorders, or in some cases, it may be inherited and not indicate any disorder. Clubbing itself does not need treatment.

Recognizing Finger Clubbing Finger clubbing is characterized by enlarged fingertips and a loss of the normal angle at the nail bed.

Last full review/revision November 2006 by James H. Fisher, MD