title: A total wrist arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis: a case followed for 24 years.
abstract: Abstract We report a case of rheumatoid arthritis treated with a total wrist arthroplasty. A Meuli-type total wrist arthroplasty was performed on the left wrist in 1979. We have treated the patient's rheumatoid arthritis with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (Actarit 100 mg and Mijoribine 50 mg) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for a total of 26 years before and after the total wrist arthroplasty. The activity of the rheumatoid arthritis has been kept at a low level. The operated wrist was followed up for 24 years postoperatively. It is thought that the antirheumatic treatments over a long period have been very successful in preventing the destruction of the operated wrist.
authors.affiliation: Hokkaido Orthopedic Memorial Hospital , 7-1 Hiragishi, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo 060-0937 , Japan.
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Sadatoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirachi
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagai