A patient who is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis suffering from pain in the palms and thumbs can be suspected to have Boutonniere deformity of thumb metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint. This article provides an overview of this condition and its management. Pain in the various joints of the body is the signature manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
The pain in hands, palms and fingers often indicate the onset of RA and possible deformity as the major complication. Boutonniere deformity of thumb MP joint is one such complication which is the commonest of all deformities in the patients with RA. Boutonniere deformity is commonly considered as the flexion deformity of the proximal interphalangeal joint due to interruption of the central slip of the extensor tendon, such that the lateral slips separate and the head of the proximal phalanx pops through the gap like a finger through a…
