What Are Knuckle Pads?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious disease that is harmful to health and disability. Real rheumatoid arthritis is not common and far less than osteoarthritis. It is just a common misconception that most joint pains are rheumatism.

Basic Information

English name

fingers rheumatoid arthritis

Visiting department

orthopedics

Multiple groups

middle aged

Common locations

Metacarpophalangeal, wrist

Common symptoms

Pain, swelling, and severe dysfunction, invading the proximal interphalangeal joints, often symmetrically distributed, with swelling and pain in both hand joints at the same time, and morning stiffness

Clinical manifestations of finger rheumatoid arthritis

Unlike osteoarthritis in the elderly, rheumatoid arthritis usually occurs in middle-aged people, with repeated episodes of symptoms, longer duration of attacks, severe pain and swelling, dysfunction, violation of proximal interphalangeal joints, metacarpophalangeal joints Wrist joints are more common, and they are often symmetrically distributed, that is, both sides of the hand joints are swollen and painful at the same time. Significantly deformed finger joints may be present.

Finger Rheumatoid Arthritis Examination

Early X-rays show osteoporosis and unclear bone texture. As the disease progresses, joint space narrows, subchondral bone invasion, swelling of the soft tissue around the joint, and joint subluxation often occur in the later stage.

Finger rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis

In 2009, the American Rheumatology Association and the European Rheumatology Prevention Federation proposed new diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis that were approved. The diagnosis needs to be scored based on the number of affected joints, the location of the patient, the duration of symptoms, and the test. More than 6 points can be considered as rheumatoid arthritis:

Number of affected joints (0-5)
1 medium and large joints	0
2-10 Medium and Large Joints	1
1-3 small joints	2
4-10 facet joints	3
> 10 at least one facet	5
Serological antibody detection (0-3)
Rheumatoid factor or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody negative	0
Rheumatoid factor or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide titer positive	2
High titer positive for rheumatoid factor or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody	3
Synovitis duration (0-1)
<6 weeks	0
6 weeks	1
Acute Phase Reactant (0-1)
Normal C- reactive protein or ESR	0
Increased C- reactive protein or ESR	1

According to the above diagnostic criteria, the finger joint is the site with the highest diagnostic score for rheumatoid arthritis. In other words, the finger joint is the most common site for rheumatoid arthritis.

Finger Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is more difficult, and it is necessary to rest during the acute episode and brake the affected joints. Drug therapy cannot yet address the cause of the disease. Commonly used drugs are:

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: reduce joint and peri-articular inflammation, relieve pain, and eliminate inflammation and swelling.

2. Symptoms reliever: such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine.

3. The efficacy of using biological agents and immunotherapy needs to be further confirmed.