Joint Replacement Surgery Of The Hand (cont.)
What are symptoms and signs of arthritis of the hand and
wrist?
The most common symptoms of arthritis of the hands include pain,
stiffness, and swelling over the joints. The pain is usually worsened
when the joint is moved. Moreover, motion of the joint is frequently
limited due to pain and joint contractures. Symptoms can lead to
difficulty with daily living activities including tying shoes,
buttoning buttons, opening jars, or turning a key in a lock.
Physical signs of arthritis of the hand include changes in the
appearance of the joints. The joints most commonly affected by
degenerative arthritis are those at the ends of the fingers. Swelling
and bumps, or nodes, can occur at the small joints at the area of the
base of the nail. These bumps are called Heberden nodes and can
become extremely painful. The joint at the base of the thumb can
also become swollen with bone spurs and cause pain and deformity.
The joint destruction also leads to severe pain when pinching the
fingers together and gripping forcefully. Joint motion limitation
can also decrease the ability to grip.
Wrist arthritis can cause pain with motion of the wrist or
grasping and lifting. Wrist range of motion is frequently limited by
the arthritis. Patients typically experience relief when the wrist
is stabilized by a splint.
Rheumatoid arthritis frequently causes swelling, pain, and
stiffness in the wrists, as well as the small joints in the middle
and at the base of the fingers. This disease frequently causes hand
deformities. Tissue lumps called rheumatoid nodules can form over
the joints of the hand and wrist. The joints of the fingers and
thumb can become deformed and contracted by the destruction of the
supporting ligaments, so that grasping and pinching movements are not
possible.
How are patients with hand joint abnormalities evaluated?
The diagnosis of hand joint problems typically involves
evaluating symptoms, physical examination, and the x-ray appearance of
the joints. Blood testing is sometimes also helpful in the
assessment process. Joint replacement surgery becomes a treatment
option when significant joint destruction and/or deformity are
present.
Next: What are the different surgical options? »
- acetylsalicylic acid, Aspirin, Ecotrin - Specifies the medication acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin, Ecotrin), a drug used for the treatment of arthritis, pain and fever.
- Total Hip Replacement - Read about total hip replacement surgery complications, problems (infection, prosthesis failure, fractured hip, limited mobility), post op rehab and precautions.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis - Learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes chronic joint inflammation, which has symptoms that include stiffness, fever, muscle and joint aches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis incorporates the use of first-line drugs (aspirin and corticosteroids for pain and inflammation) and second-line drugs (methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine to prevent joint destruction and promote remission).
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