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Treatment of rheumatoid hand synovitis with a regional block technique

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Abstract

This study reports a novel technique for treating painful rheumatoid hand synovitis using a regional block techique.

Nine patients with symptomatic rheumatoid hand synovitis were treated. Assessments of symptoms, grip strength and synovial swelling were made in each hand before the injection, and at 1 and 4 weeks after the procedure. A sphygmomanometer cuff was inflated, on the side of the patients most symptomatic hand, to 220mmHg and a solution of hydrocortisone sodium succinate 50mgs and lignocaine 10mls 0.5% was injected intravenously. The cuff was deflated slowly after 20 minutes.

The injected hand improved symptomatically in 7 patients at 1 week, and further improvement was reported in 6 of these 7 at 1 month. Mean grip strength increased significantly in the injected hand both at 1 week (p=0.01) and 1 month (p=0.018). There was no change in the other hand.

This technique is safe, reduced hand pain and improved grip strength in these patients with rheumatoid hand synovitis.

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Author notes

  1. C. J. McCarthy

    Present address: Department of Clinical Medicine, Meath Hospital, Heytesbury Street, Dublin 8

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Mater Hospital, Eccles St., Dublin 7, Ireland

    C. J. McCarthy, M. Regan & R. J. Coughlan

Authors
  1. C. J. McCarthy
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  2. M. Regan
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  3. R. J. Coughlan
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McCarthy, C.J., Regan, M. & Coughlan, R.J. Treatment of rheumatoid hand synovitis with a regional block technique. I.J.M.S. 162, 143–144 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02942104

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02942104

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