SWANSON PROXIMAL INTERPHALANGEAL JOINT ARTHROPLASTY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

One hundred thirty-eight Swanson proximal interphalangeal replacements were implanted in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, of which 99 imp lants were available for average 5.8 years followup, Pain was severe i n 1%, moderate in 4%, slight in 28%, and not present in 67%, The avera ge preoperative active are of motion was 38 degrees, and postoperative 29 degrees, Ten fractures were found, and were revised, Of 45 patient s assessed, 45 (100%) reported the ability to feed themselves, 43 (96% ) to button their clothes, and 42 (93%) to write, There was sclerosis of bone around 78% of the implants and resorption adjacent to 12% of t he implants, Survivorship analysis showed that 81% of implants were no t revised at 9 years.