Hand Deformities in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthriti

Abstract

Objective To estimate the types of hand deformities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: A group of 100 patients who had been admitted to the department of rheumatology and rehabilitation center in Sulaimany general hospital and those who had been attended to the rheumatology and rehabilitation center between June 2006 and January 2007 were included in this study.86% were females and 14% were males . Patients who had undergone articular surgery and patients below 16 years had been excluded. Results Hand deformities recorded in 47% of cases. The frequency of deformities was as follow; swan neck deformity (48.90%), boutonniere deformity (43.04%), Z deformity(59.5%), ulnar deviation of the metacarpophalangeal joints (MCPJ) (78.7%), radial deviation of the wrist (91.48%), subluxation of the wrist (27.6%), and subluxation of the MCPJ(36.17%).There was a significant correlation between disease duration and development of deformities,other factors that had been studied but had no effect on the development of deformities were rheumatoid factor positivity ;occupation of the patients ;effect of weather;and geographical distribution of the patients. Conclusion Rheumatoid arthritis is an important disease that affects the hands and cause deformities. Understanding these deformities is necessary for the proper management of these patients. This study is representative for RA related hand deformities and factors that contribute to their development.