Untreated rheumatoid arthritis can lead to severe deformities. Following xrays are of a 43 years old woman who was a known case of rheumatoid arthritis and had taken on and off treatment.
She presented with deformed hands and pain in bilateral hips. The problem had persisted for past 10 years.
Bilateral Deformed Hands In Rheumatoid Arthritis
The xrays of the hip revealed bilateral arthritic changes.
The xray of hand was quite interesting. It showed dislocation of bilateral all metacarpophalangeal joints and destruction of carpal joints along with osteopenia of entire wrist and hand region.
The patient was suggested to o get replacement surgery of bilateral hips and fusion of metacrpophalangeal joints in functional postion for better hand use.
She never returned back. Probably her expectations were to get fully functional hands which was not possible due to severity of her long standing deformity.
It bothered me, and I feel sorry for her.