Rheumatoid Arthritis Surgery
What is rheumatoid arthritis surgery?
In cases where medication is unable to control inflammation or there is irreversible damage to the joints from arthritis then surgery may be of benefit. This is a complex decision making process and will require combined input from yourself your rheumatologist a hand surgeon and often your hand therapist.
Surgery may be to correct deformity, relieve pain or both but the main aim will always be to improve function. The specific operation or combination of operations will be very individual but may include tendon reconstruction or transfer, joint replacement or joint fusion. Some examples of which are discussed below.
How is Rheumatoid Arthritis Surgery performed?
In patients with rheumatoid arthritis the tendon tissue is often weak and not possible to repair. Tendon transfers are therefore the treatment of choice and help to regain useful function.
In cases where the joint and surrounding soft tissues are badly worn, fusion will give the best results. Fusion of the joint will mean the finger is unable to bend, but will be pain free and set in a good position to allow pinching and gripping. Fusion is achieved by putting the finger joint in the most useful position and fixing it there permanently. Although there is no movement in that particular joint; all the others continue to move, it is not painful and you will have better use of the finger.
The One Team Specialists
Anthony Hearnden
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon FRCS (Tr&Orth), Shoulder, Elbow, Hand and Wrist
