Finger arthritis

Two main types of arthritis commonly seen in the finger.  

Osteoarthritis is common.  It may cause pain and stiffness, but this is not inevitable; some patients have very deformed hands and very little in the way of symptoms.

The treatment of osteoarthritis is primarily medical.  In the case of more siginificant pain and disability joint replacements and joint fusions are possible.  We currently use pyrocarbon implants as shown in the photograph below.

In rheumatoid arthritis the hands are often affected.  Various surgical options are possible.  They are joint fusion, joint replacement, and tendon surgery.  This is an area where patients are especially in need of careful personal assessment so that an individual plan can be drawn up in conjunction with the therapists.