The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 68, Issue 2 206-209, Copyright © 1986 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Silicone-rubber implant arthroplasty of the metacarpophalangeal joints for rheumatoid arthritis
EJ Bieber, AJ Weiland and S Volenec-Dowling
Forty-six patients with rheumatoid arthritis underwent
metacarpophalangeal-joint arthroplasty of the index through little fingers
on 210 joints in fifty-five hands using the Swanson-design silicone-rubber
spacer. The patients were followed for two to eight years (average, five
and one-quarter years). They were evaluated both preoperatively and
postoperatively for range of motion, deformity, subjective sense, grip
strength, and prehension. In the initial postoperative evaluation, the
majority of patients expressed a strong subjective impression of
improvement. Ulnar drift improved from the preoperative average of 25
degrees to less than 5 degrees. The preoperative average extension deficit
decreased from 56 to 10 degrees, while the average range of motion
increased from 17 to 51 degrees. In the long-term postoperative evaluation,
the average ulnar drift had increased to 12 degrees, the average extension
deficit had increased to 22 degrees, and the average range of motion had
decreased to 39 degrees. Grip strength and prehension did not significantly
improve at either evaluation. There were no fractures of the prosthesis and
no patient had synovitis. We have found the procedure to be useful for the
correction of deformity, increasing range of motion of the fingers, and
improving the patient's sense of well-being.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Facebook 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
