title: Short-term outcome of finger joint synovectomy in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) frequently affects finger joints, and persistent synovitis is believed to cause not only bone destruction but also various deformities of the fingers in the long run. Synovectomy of the finger joints is carried out when chronic swelling of the synovium does not respond to any conservative treatment with medication and rehabilitation. In the present study the short-term results of finger joint synovectomy in RA were reviewed in 49 finger joints. The subjects were evaluated at two time points, with average follow-up periods of 14 and 62 months, and the results were compared between the two follow-up time points. In regard to results, pain relief, swelling abatement, and only a little loss of motion were observed in most fingers. Moreover, only a few patients demonstrated progression of bone destruction, suggesting that synovectomy has a retarding effect and tends to be effective especially in the early stages of the disease. In conclusion, we recommend synovectomy for finger joints in RA patients before bone changes occur, and when chronic synovitis of the finger joints does not respond to any other conservative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Konan Kakogawa Hospital, Saijo 1545-1, Kanno-cho, Kakogawa 675-8545, Japan. nnakagawa_kkb@knc.kakogawa.or.jp
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terashima
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohyama
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D000074402:Synovectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome