TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID HAND SYNOVITIS WITH A REGIONAL BLOCK TECHNIQUE

This study reports a novel technique for treating painful rheumatoid h and synovitis using a regional block techique. Nine patients with symp tomatic rheumatoid hand synovitis were treated. Assessments or symptom s, grip strength and synovial swelling were made in each hand before t he injection, and at 1 and 4 weeks after the procedure. A sphygmomanom eter cuff was inflated, on the side of the patients most symptomatic h and, to 220mmHg and a solution or hydrocortisone sodium succinate 50mg s and lignocaine 10mls 0.5% was injected intravenously. The cuff was d eflated slowly after 20 minutes. The injected hand improved symptomati cally in 7 patients at 1 week, and further improvement was reported in 6 of these 7 at 1 month. Mean grip strength increased significantly i n the injected hand both at 1 week (p=0.01) and 1 month (p=0.018). The re was no change in the other hand. This technique is safe, reduced ha nd pain and improved grip strength in these patients with rheumatoid h and synovitis.