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Carpal bone involvement in gout

J Terrence Jose Jerome1, Balu Sankaran, K Thirumagal

  • 1Department of Orthopedics, St Stephen's Hospital, Tiz Hazari, Delhi, India. terrencejose@gmail.com

Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery
|October 12, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Gout tophi deposition in the hand is uncommon, especially affecting carpal bones. This case highlights a rare instance of carpal bone involvement in a patient with long-standing gouty arthritis.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Orthopedics
  • Hand Surgery

Background:

  • Gout is a common inflammatory arthritis caused by monosodium urate crystal deposition.
  • Tophi, or urate crystal aggregates, typically form in soft tissues and joints.
  • Late-stage gout can lead to joint damage and deformities.

Observation:

  • The case involves a 40-year-old male patient.
  • The patient presented with a long duration of gouty arthritis.
  • The carpal bones were identified as a site of tophi deposition.

Findings:

  • Carpal bone involvement in gout is rarely documented in medical literature.
  • This case represents an unusual manifestation of gout progression.
  • The deposition of gout tophi in the carpal bones was confirmed.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering carpal bone involvement in advanced gout cases.
  • May prompt further investigation into the pathophysiology of gout tophi in unusual locations.
  • Informs differential diagnosis for wrist pain and swelling in patients with a history of gout.

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