Assessment of Progressive Hand and Wrist Deformities in the Rheumatoid Patient

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Orthopedics
• Pathology

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease.
• Synovitis and pannus formation are key pathological processes.
• These processes lead to progressive joint damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the pathogenesis of hand and wrist deformities in rheumatoid arthritis.
• To discuss the assessment of these deformities.

Main Methods:

• Review of the pathological mechanisms.
• Description of typical deformities.
• Discussion of clinical assessment strategies.

Main Results:

• Pathogenesis involves synovitis and pannus formation.
• This leads to ligament stretching, attenuation, and joint instability.
• Typical deformities include dorsal ulna subluxation, volar carpal subluxation, ulnar translocation, and supination, culminating in carpal collapse.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the pathogenesis is crucial for assessing rheumatoid arthritis-related hand and wrist deformities.
• The described deformities result from direct tissue invasion and mass effect.
• Accurate assessment aids in managing these debilitating conditions.