The effect of activity and type of rheumatoid arthritis on the flexible implant arthroplasty of the metacarpophalangeal joint.

A retrospective study was performed on 184 Swanson flexible implant arthroplasties of the metacarpophalangeal joint in 75 hands of 64 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, to investigate the influence of systemic factors on the clinical and radiological results. The mean follow-up period was 6 years. The postoperative serum C-reactive protein level was found to affect postoperative pain, and there was a larger extension lag and more subsidence of the implant in those with the mutilating type of the disease. Copyright 2002 The British Society for Surgery of the Hand.