Osteoarthritis of the fingers

Abstract

Hand osteoarthritis is the commonest form of arthritis and can result in significant morbidity. Gender, ethnicity and occupation are recognized risk factors and result in different patterns of disease, though radiographic features do not consistently correlate with clinical symptoms. A range of non-operative and operative treatment options are available. Non-operative measures include analgesia, intra-articular injections and hand therapy, whereas operative measures include joint fusion and joint replacement. A range of fusion and arthroplasty techniques are available with varying levels of evidence and efficacy. A patient-centred approach is required, combining a range of different treatment techniques to create a treatment strategy tailored to each patient's individual symptomatic and functional needs.