OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to measure radiographic joint space width and to estimate erosion in the hands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It showed that joint space width, homogeneity, and invariant moments are parameters to discriminate between the normal and the rheumatoid joint. METHODS: In order to measure the joint space width and to estimate erosion in the finger joint, 32 radiographic images were used - 16 images for training and 16 images for testing. The joint space width was measured in order to quantify the joint space narrowing. Also, homogeneity and invariant moments was computed in order to quantify erosion. Finally, artificial neural networks were constructed and tested as a classifier distinguishing between the normal and the rheumatoid joint. RESULTS: The joint space width of normal was 1.04+/-0.15 mm and the width of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was 0.94+/-0.15 mm. The Homogeneity of normal was 16568.83+/-2669.83 and invariant moments were 6843.45+/-2937.55. They were statistically difference (p<.05). Using these characteristics, artificial neural networks showed that they discriminate between normal and rheumatoid arthritis (AUC=0.91). CONCLUSION: Measuring joint space width, estimating homogeneity, and invariant moments provide the capability to distinguish between a normal joint and a rheumatoid joint.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Finger Joint ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints

The minimally invasive release treatment of TCM Small Needle-Knife for the stenosing tenosynovitis of flexor digtorum-"trigger finger" has a more satisfied efficacy. In recent years, many clinicians use self-made small sharp scalpels, iris knives, small sickles, push shear knives, and other improved alternatives to instead of the traditional small needle-knives. Changing the original small needle-knife vertical stabbed cutting method, take a mini-incision, along the traveling direction of flexor tendon make a vertical hook cut, pick cut, straight push cut and any other cuts, completely cut the stenosis of the tendon sheath pulley, to achieve the release therapeutic purposes. The experience of most scholars is: Detailed and thorough understanding refers to the anatomical level of the flexor tendon and surrounding tissue, the structural relationship; Strictly adhere to the indications of minimally invasive release therapy; Proficiency in a dedicated minimally invasive release needle-knives, scalpels, and standardized methods of operation; Accurate positioning before surgery, in surgery traveling direction along flexor tendon, continuous incision to release the middle along the tendon. It can achieve the same or even higher incision release efficacy than the traditional treatment, at the same time also avoids common adverse complications.
Finger Joint ; surgery ; Fingers ; surgery ; Humans ; Tendon Entrapment ; surgery

No abstract available.
Cartilage, Articular* ; Child* ; Finger Joint* ; Fingers* ; Humans ; Transplants*

In elderly patients, the first incidence of gout often affects the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) and usually subsides without specific treatment after about 7 days. A 61-year-old male was presented to our clinic with a 10-day history of tenderness and swelling in his index DIP, which was initially diagnosed as cellulitis. After a skin incision was made to drain the lesion, typical tophaceous deposits were observed around the extensor apparatus, flexor tendons, and joint capsule. The tophi were meticulously removed in order to minimize the injury to its surrounding structures, after which the joint fluid was aspirated. There was no history of gout, laboratory findings suggesting tophaceous gout, or apparent predisposing factors in the patient's history. Pathology confirmed tophaceous deposits and negative birefringent crystals, and the patient has been managed on allopurinol for post-operative six months.
Aged ; Allopurinol ; Cellulitis ; Finger Joint ; Gout ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Joint Capsule ; Joints ; Male ; Skin ; Tendons

OBJECTIVEInterphalangeal joint contracture is a challenging complication of hand trauma, which reduces the functional capacity of the entire hand. In this study we evaluated the results of soft tissue distraction with no collateral ligament transection or volar plate removal in comparison with traditional operation of contracture release and partial ligament transection and volar plate removal.

METHODSIn this prospective study, a total of 40 patients in two equal groups (A and B) were studied. Patients suffering from chronic flexion contracture of abrasive traumatic nature were included. Group A were treated by soft tissue distraction using pentagonal frame technique and in Group B the contracture release was followed by finger splinting.

RESULTSAnalyzed data revealed a significant difference between the two groups for range of motion in the proximal interphalangeal joints (P less than 0.05), while it was not meaningful in the distal interphalangeal joints (P larger than 0.05). There was not a significant difference in the degrees of flexion contracture between groups (P larger than 0.05). Regression analysis showed that using pentagonal frame technique significantly increased the mean improvement in range of motion of proximal interphalangeal joints (P less than 0.001), while the higher the preoperative flexion contracture was observed in proximal interphalangeal joints, the lower improvement was achieved in range of motion of proximal interphalangeal joints after intervention (P less than 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSoft tissue distraction using pentagonal frame technique with gradual and continuous collateral ligament and surrounding joint tissues distraction combined with skin Z-plasty significantly improves the range of motion in patients with chronic traumatic flexion deformity of proximal and/or distal interphalangeal joints.

Contracture ; Finger Joint ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; Prospective Studies ; Range of Motion, Articular

Finger Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography

We report an innovative approach to reconstructing the defect after excision of giant tumor cell (GCT) involving the entire first metacarpal. Reconstruction was performed using non-vascularized fibular autograft fused at the metacarpo-phalangeal (MP) joint and soft tissue arthroplasty using ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI) at the carpo-metacarpal (CMC) joint of the thumb.

Two years after the procedure, the CMC joint had functional pain-free motion and radiographs showed fusion of the MP joint. The patient did not present with any major complication and was satisfied with the outcome of the procedure.

Human ; Female ; Young Adult ; Thumb ; Metacarpal Bones ; Autografts ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; Arthroplasty ; Tendons ; Finger Phalanges ; Ligaments ; Pain

One of common injury sites in golfers is the wrist, but ulnar neuropathies at wrist in golfers have been rarely reported. We report a case of ulnar neuropathy within the Guyon's tunnel occurred in a single golfer diagnosed with electrodiagnosis and ultrasound. A 59-year old man suffered from difficulty with extension of left 4th and 5th finger joints and weakness of hand grasping, which had occurred 2 weeks ago and aggravated slowly. He had no sensory disturbance. During recent two months, he had practiced golf for three to four hours daily. Electrodiagnostic study showed that the deep branch of left ulnar nerve was compromised at the wrist (type IIA). Ultrasound study revealed a ganglion cyst within the Guyon's tunnel. Therefore we diagnosed the patient as having ulnar neuropathy (only deep branch involvement) associated with a ganglion cyst within the Guyon's tunnel.
Electrodiagnosis ; Finger Joint ; Ganglion Cysts ; Golf ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Neuropathies ; Wrist

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography for limited finger joint mobility in diabetes and association between limited finger joint mobility and the presence of diabetic chronic complications. METHODS: Ultrasonography were performed in 13 non insulin-dependent diabetes with limited finger joint mobility and 15 non insulin-dependent diabetes without limited finger joint mobility matched for similar ages, sexes and durations of diabetes. Controls consisted of 12 healthy volunteers with no evidence of diabetes mellitus. Ultrasonography was used to measure flexor tendon and tendon sheath thickness of the third and fourth fingers in the volar aspect of both hands. We evaluated neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy in all diabetic patients and investigated association between limited finger joint mobility and the presence of diabetic chronic complications. RESULTS: Thickness of flexor tendon sheath of the third and fourth fingers were significantly increased in the diabetes with limited finger joint mobility compared to the diabetes without limited finger joint mobility (p<0.01). Also, flexor tendon thickness of the third finger was significantly increased in the diabetes with limited finger joint mobility compared to the diabetes without limited finger joint mobility (p<0.05). The diabetes with limited finger joint mobility had a significantly increased frequency of the diabetic chronic complications (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In the diabetes with limited finger joint mobility, thickening of flexor tendon sheath and tendon were shown by ultrasonography. This finding suggests that ultrasonography can be used to diagnose limited finger joint mobility in the diabetes. Limited finger joint mobility is closely associated with diabetic chronic complications.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Finger Joint* ; Fingers* ; Hand ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography*

Pain, premature degenerative arthritis, stiffness and persisting subluxation are common sequalae of fracture dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joints of the fingers. With disruption of greater than 40% of the volar articular surface of the middle phalanx, it is un- likely that congrous stable reduction can be achieved. And the most severe injuries are caused by longitudinal compression force, which drives the middle phalanx where the middle phalanx eventually comes to rest. Many authors had reported a variety of method for the treatment of the unstable fracture dislocation with no satisfactory results except Eaton(1980). In his ten years experience the volar plate arthroplasty for acute and chronic fracture dislocations got a good results with satisfactory range of motion and no pain on motion. Authors had been treated two cases of chronic fracture dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint with Eatons volar plate arthroplasty followed by good results in one year followed-up study.
Arthroplasty ; Dislocations ; Finger Joint ; Fingers ; Joints ; Methods ; Osteoarthritis ; Range of Motion, Articular