[Current Options of Rheumatosurgery of the Hand and Wrist]

Rheumatosurgery is a discipline managing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis of the musculoskeletal system. In a vast number of patients this disease starts in the wrist and hand. The portfolio of surgical procedures performed on the skeleton and soft tissues in these regions can be divided into two groups that, however, often times overlap in practice. Commonly, a combination of these surgical interventions is used. The surgical management should commence with prophylactic interventions that aim to slow down the development of rheumatoid deformities. These are followed by reconstructive surgery which shall manage the already developed rheumatoid deformities and their complications. The prophylactic interventions include early and late synovectomy, peritenosynovectomy, tenodeses, tendon transpositions and limited arthrodeses. The reconstructive surgery procedures comprise osteotomy, resection procedures, alloplasties, total arthrodesis and tendon reconstructions. Key words: rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatosurgery, hand, wrist.