title: Multiple loose bodies in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Intra-articular loose bodies are usually secondary to osteochondral fractures, osteochondritis dissecans, synovial osteochondromatosis, and degenerative arthritis. The authors report four patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis and multiple loose bodies in a variety of joints. All patients have remained active despite their disease, suggesting that the loose body production was secondary to trauma of continued activity superimposed on joints containing pannus and eroded cartilage.
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology