Abstract
Intra-articular loose bodies are usually secondary to osteochondral fractures, osteochondritis dissecans, synovial osteochondromatosis, and degenerative arthritis. The authors report four patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis and multiple loose bodies in a variety of joints. All patients have remained active despite their disease, suggesting that the loose body production was secondary to trauma of continued activity superimposed on joints containing pannus and eroded cartilage.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rodnan, G.P.Ed.: Primer on the rheumatic diseases, 7th edition. JAMA 224, Suppl. 5 (1973)
Resnick, D., Curd, J., Shapiro, R.F., Wiesner, K.B.: Radiographic abnormalities of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. Arthritis Rheum. 21, 1 (1978)
Milgram, J.W.: The classification of loose bodies in human joints. Clin Orthop. 124, 282 (1977)
Muirden, K.: Giant cells, cartilage, and bone fragments within rheumatoid synovial membrane: Clinico-pathological correlations. Aust. Ann. Med. 19, 105 (1970)
Resnick, D., Gmelich, J.T.: Bone fragmentation in the rheumatoid wrist: Radiographic and pathologic considerations. Radiology 114, 315 (1975)
DeHaas, W.H.D., Griffioen, F., Oosten-Elst P.: Rheumatoid arthritis of the robust reaction type. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 33, 81 (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moldofsky, P.J., Dalinka, M.K. Multiple loose bodies in rheumatioid arthritis. Skeletal Radiol. 4, 219–222 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347217
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347217