Posterior tibial tendon and subtalar joint complex in rheumatoid arthritis: magnetic resonance imaging study.
OBJECTIVE
To observe by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the pathologic changes in the posterior tibial tendon (PTT), subtalar joint complex (STJC), and sinus tarsi in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and if possible to determine their involvement in the course of the disease.


METHODS
Sixty-seven rheumatoid feet with mid and hindfoot pain underwent MRI with gadolinium injection. Localized enhancement and anatomic lesions were assessed in the 3 sites.


RESULTS
On MRI, PTT involvement was seen to be more frequent than STJC or sinus tarsi. When there was gadolinium enhancement of the PTT there was no sinus tarsi enhancement (p = 0.014). Interosseous talocalcaneal ligament rupture was correlated with disability (p = 0.031).


CONCLUSIONS
In RA patients with hindfoot pain, PTT synovitis is observed when there is no sinus tarsi synovitis.
Bouysset
Maurice
M
Department of Rheumatology, Hôpital Edouard-Herriot, Lyon, France.
Tebib
Jacques
J
Tavernier
Thierry
T
Noel
Eric
E
Nemoz
Chantal
C
Bonnin
Michel
M
Tillmann
Karl
K
Jalby
Jocelyne
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013380:Subtalar Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013585:Synovitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology*; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology
D005682:Gadolinium