OBJECTIVE To compare ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in their capability to detect bone erosions in early-advanced rheumatoid arthritis, where no erosion was evident on conventional radiography (X-ray). METHODS Metacarpophalangeal (MCP), radiocarpal and ulnocarpal joints of 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with bone erosion that was not detected by conventional...

The objective of the study was, with multidetector computed tomography (CT) as the reference method, to determine whether bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints detected with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US), but not with radiography, represent true erosive changes. We included 17 RA patients with at least one, previously detected, r...

The metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint is crucial for hand function, but the joints are frequently affected by arthritis, leading to pain and disability. Joint replacement implants are used to replace the diseased MCP joint, but current and past designs have had varying success. This paper presents a new MCP joint prosthesis based around an idea of combining a single piece elastomer implant with a...

BACKGROUND Osteochondral defects of the radiocarpal, metacarpophalangeal (MCP), and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints often necessitate joint arthrodesis or mechanical arthroplasty, which has a limited lifespan. In severely arthritic wrist and finger joints, we propose a novel adjunct for joint salvage using cadaveric meniscus for joint resurfacing as an off-the-shelf alternative to address...

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa is a rare nonhereditary congenital form of localised gigantism usually involving the 2nd or 3rd digit of the hand or foot. Pathologically an increase in adipose tissue involving subcutaneous tissue periosteum and bone marrow is present. Typical clinical andradiological appearances are described in this case report. Case Report A 36-year-old female presented with enlar...

BACKGROUND Ultrasonography allows assessment of soft tissue structures and has become a valued tool for diagnosing synovitis. OBJECTIVE To assess the learning curve for ultrasonography in evaluating synovitis of the small joints in rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS Metacarpophalangeal (MCP), metatarsophalangeal (MTP), and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints were evaluated using ultrasonograph...

OBJECTIVES To examine demographic and clinical features leading to the diagnosis of hereditary haemochromatosis and assess factors that might enhance earlier diagnosis, with particular attention to arthritic symptoms. METHOD Diagnostic features were captured directly from patients with haemochromatosis attending a specialist rheumatology clinic (group 1) and from analysis of a specifically de...

AIM To evaluate the role of gray-scale and color duplex-Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) in diagnosis of changes of hand joints and assessment of treatment efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by comparing qualitative and quantitative US parameters with clinical and laboratory indicators of disease activity. METHODS Ulnocarpal (UC), metacarpophalangeal (MCP), and proximal interphalang...

BACKGROUND Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) injection is an alternative to surgery for patients with Dupuytren disease (DD) of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. The success of surgical and nonsurgical treatment modalities for DD is reported to vary widely between 25% and 80% (J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1985;67:1439-1443; Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007;120:...