Arthroplasty of the Metacarpophalangeal Joints in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Transposition of the Interosseus Muscles

Abstract

The technique of the operation and the follow-up results of arthroplasty of 159 metacarpophalangeal joints of 52 rheumatoid hands are presented. In this series the interosseus tendons on the uinar side of the II, III and IV fingers were transfered to the extensor apparatus of the III, IV and V fingers to prevent secondary ulnar deviation. The results are compared with a series of 283 arthroplasties without this transposition. Transposition of the interosseus tendons diminished the percentage of severe ulnar deviation from 17 to 6 per cent. Otherwise the results were comparable to those of the earlier series.