ABSTRACT

Soft tissue lesions commonly occur in the wrist joint, hand and fingers. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other arthropathies predispose to some of these problems. Osteoarthritis is about four times more common than RA. Primary osteoarthritis runs in families as an autosomal dominant trait. The most familiar pattern affects the terminal interphalangeal joints, producing Heberden’s nodes, as well as affecting the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb. In osteoarthritis of the other joints, genetic influences are less obvious. Secondary arthritis may follow sporting activities and trauma that produce recurrent traumatic synovitis.