Rheumatoid thumb.

The hand is the main tactile sensory organ and is uniquely designed for fine motor activities. Any deviation from the normal architecture or limitation from a painful condition may lead to disability. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is fundamentally an inflammatory disease of the soft tissues. Deformities of the thumb arise from abnormal stretching of ligament and capsular structures as well as from ruptures and subluxations of the tendons. This article provides an overview of the types of deformities associated with, and surgical management of, RA of the thumb.