Arthritis in the wrist and hand is common but fortunately it rarely requires surgery. Whilst the arthritis gives rise to ugly deformities, particularly in the fingers, it is not as disabling as might have been expected. The Arthritis Foundation is an excellent source of information. It is critical to make the distiction between the different types of arthritis as this determines the prognosis and type of treatment.
We propose to look at the following conditions in more detail.