title: Survival and complications are similar after Swanson and Sutter implant replacement of metacarpophalangeal joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: We compared the survival, fracture, and deformation rates of Swanson and Sutter implants in a prospective series of 53 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fifty-eight hands were operated on with 215 silastic implants. The Swanson group comprised 25 hands and 89 implants, and the Sutter group 33 and 126, respectively. Follow up was 58 (37-80) months. During a period of 48 months the survival of Swanson and Sutter prostheses did not differ significantly: 92% (95% CI 84% to 96%) and 97% (95% CI 92% to 99%), respectively. The fracture rate was high in both groups: 26 (34%) in the Swanson and 25 (26%) in the Sutter group. There was no significant difference between the groups in definite fracture rates of implants. The Sutter prosthesis appears to be at least as durable an implant in rheumatoid patients' metacarpophalangeal arthroplasty as the Swanson.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, FIN-18120 Heinola, Finland. timoparkkila@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Timo J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Parkkila
authors.forename: Eero A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Belt
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hakala
authors.forename: Hannu J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kautiainen
authors.forename: Juhana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leppilahti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology; D012086:Reoperation; D012828:Silicones / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D012828:Silicones; C013830:baysilon