THE RHEUMATOID HAND (Part I)

Early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is mainly presented as the signs of articular synovial membrane inflammation. Examination reveals the changed outline of joints, their dysfunction, and local palpatory tenderness. Juxta-articular osteoporosis is one of the earliest and characteristic X-ray manifestations of polyarthritis. Its most important X-ray symptoms should include joint space narrowing. It reflects articular cartilage destruction and it is taken into account in evaluating the progression of a pathological process. The most typical sign of RA is bone erosions that comparatively rarely occur at the onset of the disease and are a poor predictor.
Progression of RA leads to articular cartilage and bone destruction and ligament and tendon damage over time. Incompetence of the ligamentous apparatus may cause dorsal subluxation of the radius. In late RA, bone erosions are detectable in practically all patients. This is the most characteristic X-ray symptom of polyarthritis. Extensive and multiple destructive changes in the joints are accompanied by the development of their multiple subluxations, dislocations, and contractures. In addition to destructive changes in the joints, most deformities are associated with their tendinous and liga-mentous looseness and ruptures and with the rearrangement of normal muscle tension around one joint or more. Articular ankylosis occurs in late RA

rheumatoid arthritis, hand, tendovaginitis, juxta-articular osteoporosis, joint space narrowing, ulnar deviation, bone erosions, articular ankyloses, carpal tunnel syndrome