Arthritis and the Hand Arthritis is the number one crippling disease in America today, affecting about 30 million people. Arthritis of the hand causes major disability with associated economic and psychological impact. There are two types of arthritis that commonly affect the hand - rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (degenerative). There are several basic differences between the two types of arthritis that commonly affect the hand. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease of unknown cause affecting many organs in the body, including joints, tendons and bursae. Seventy-five percent of the patients are female and the predominant age of onset is between 20 and 45. The hands are the initial joints involved in fifteen percent of the cases and both hands are commonly affected. The disease affects primarily the tissues surrounding the joints, causing weakness of these structures (joint capsule and ligaments). The "big knuckles" or MP joints are usually involved, causing the typical appearance of ulnar drift. The middle joints of the fingers and thumb may be affected in later stages causing typical deformities - "swan-neck" or "boutonniere" (button-hole). The swan-neck deformity is so named because of the resemblance of the finger to a swan. The button-hole deformity often affects the thumb. The pain and deformity can cause difficulties with simple everyday activities like opening a door and buttoning a blouse. OSTEOARTHRITIS Osteoarthritis is due to wear and tear at the joint surfaces and is more common in individuals over 60 years of age. At each joint, the ends of the bones are covered with cartilage which act as shock absorbers. With advancing age, the cartilage wears out and the bone ends start rubbing against each other, causing pain and eventually stiffness. NEXT

Tampa Bay Hand Center  |  Cecil C. Aird, M.D.  |  Dr. Khader Muqtadir  |  Total Care of the Hand Patient 
  Common Hand and Wrist Problems  |  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome  |  Arthritis and the Hand  |  Patient Information   Meet the Staff  |  Our Location  |  Contact Us