William Heberden: The Man and the Node: A Brief Historical Note

Orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, rheumatologists and primary care physicians frequently see patients who present with enlargement overlying the dorsal aspect of the distal interphalangeal joint of one or more fingers. These patients may be given a diagnosis of Heberden’s Nodes, which are hard or bony enlargements overlying the dorsal aspect of the distal interphalangeal joint of one or more fingers, and are considered a sign of osteoarthritis. This article serves as a brief biography of Sir William Heberden and a narrative review of Heberden’s Nodes.