ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Chirurgia Del Piede 1999 September;23(3):103-6

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Particular arthrographic patterns in rheumatoid ankle

De Palma L., Santucci A., Rapali S., Ventura A.

Background. Ankle arthrography is one of the various diagnostic imaging procedures used to monitor disease evolution in rheumatoid arthritis. Ankle arthrography allows to evaluate the extent of the synovial phlogistic process and the presence of capsular and ligamentous lesion. Aim of the present study was the description and the analysis of the peculiar arthrographic patterns during the natural evolution of ankle involvement in long-standing rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods. A prospective study was performed on twenty ankles of fifteen individuals affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Patients' average age was fifty years with a male-female ratio of 1:5. Radiographic patterns were observed in twelve cases.
Results. Different patterns of ankle involvement in rheumatoid arthritis have been detailed.
Conclusions. Ankle arthrography revealed to be a simple and hazard-free procedure; nevertheless, it cannot be used routinely and its indications are now further restricted by the utilisation of non-invasive methods (i.e. CT and MRI) and by arthroscopy. Arthrography is absolutely contraindicated in the acute phases of rheumatoid arthritis.