[Rheumatoid wrist]

Abstract

The wrist is involved, often as the initial lesion, in 85% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. . An early diagnosis results in a better management. At an advanced stage the functional disablement may be severe; it can be due to instability of the wrist, sometimes associated with palmar dislocation of the carpus, to rupture of tendons facilitated by dorsal dislocation of the ulnar head, and to the limited mobility of the wrist, notably in supination. Treatment is part of the overall management of rheumatoid arthritis, with surgery playing a major role.