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Rheumatology7 papers

Reactive arthritis of joint of hand

Last edited: 4/10/2026

Overview

Reactive arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis that can affect the joints of the hand 1. It is characterized by inflammation of the joints, often following an infection elsewhere in the body 1.

Diagnosis

  • Diagnosis is typically based on clinical presentation and exclusion of other causes of arthritis 1.
  • Imaging studies may be used to assess joint involvement and rule out other conditions 1.

    • Management

  • Treatment focuses on managing inflammation and pain 1.
  • Surgical intervention, such as arthrodesis, may be considered for severe or refractory cases involving joint fusion 1.
  • Salvage techniques exist for complications of surgical procedures, such as retained hardware and nonunion 1.

    • Key Recommendations

  • Arthrodesis of the distal interphalangeal joint is an accepted treatment for painful arthritis 1.
  • Headless screw fixation is an effective method for achieving bony union in distal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis 1.
  • Salvage techniques are available to address retained headless screws and persistent nonunion following distal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis 1.

    • References

    1 Owusu A, Isaacs J. Revision of failed distal interphalangeal arthrodesis complicated by retained headless screw. The Journal of hand surgery 2013. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Revision of failed distal interphalangeal arthrodesis complicated by retained headless screw. — Owusu A, Isaacs J The Journal of hand surgery (2013)
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