Metacarpophalangeal joint arthritis

J Hand Surg Am. 2011 Feb;36(2):345-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2010.11.035.

Abstract

Arthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint can result in considerable disability and pain. Inflammatory, posttraumatic, crystalline, and osteoarthritis are common etiologies of joint disease. A variety of nonsurgical treatment options have been shown to be effective, including activity modification, anti-inflammatory medications, splinting, and cortisone injections. In addition, newer generation disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs geared toward the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis have shown promise in retarding the inflammatory process. Another, relatively newer, conservative treatment option includes topical anti-inflammatories such as diclofenac sodium that are now approved by the Federal Drug Administration. Surgical treatment options most commonly include arthroplasty and arthrodesis. In the treatment of thumb metacarpophalangeal arthritis, arthrodesis is a popular and generally reliable surgical solution. In the fingers, arthroplasty remains the most common treatment option. Traditional constrained silicone joint replacements remain the most commonly used. Newer generation, unconstrained, surface replacement arthroplasties have shown promise in the treatment of osteoarthritis and select cases of inflammatory arthritis in which there is good bone stock, no or minimal deformity, adequate supporting soft tissues, and good disease control.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis / diagnostic imaging
  • Arthritis / physiopathology
  • Arthritis / therapy*
  • Arthrodesis / methods*
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Finger / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metacarpophalangeal Joint / diagnostic imaging
  • Metacarpophalangeal Joint / physiopathology
  • Metacarpophalangeal Joint / surgery*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Prognosis
  • Radiography
  • Range of Motion, Articular / physiology
  • Recovery of Function
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Thumb / diagnostic imaging
  • Thumb / physiopathology
  • Thumb / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents