Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the synovium leading to joint damage and bone destruction. Within two years of diagnosis more than half of patients will have wrist pain and more than 90% will have wrist disease by 10 years. The surgical management of the advanced rheumatoid wrist is controversial. A Medline search was performed using the key words 'rheumatoid arthritis and wrist arthroplasty' 'rheumatoid arthritis and wrist arthrodesis' 'rheumatoid arthritis and wrist fusion'. Total wrist arthroplasty is a motion preserving alternative which is slowly increasing in popularity. It is however a complex, technically demanding procedure with a high rate of complications. Wrist arthrodesis is currently the most widely used operative management for end stage rheumatoid arthritis. It provides pain relief and stability but there is a compromise of a loss of movement. We conclude that patients with end stage rheumatoid arthritis with good bone stock may have total wrist arthroplasty or wrist arthrodesis. Total wrist arthroplasty should be with the latest generation implants. Those patients with poor bone stock or soft tissues should have wrist arthrodesis. Citation
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.