Flexor tendon ruptures in the rheumatoid hand: bilateral flexor pollicis longus rupture.

In a 42-year-old male with a 15-year history of rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral rupture of the flexor pollicis longus was associated with subluxation with radial deviation of the carpus and increased angulation of the tendon in relation to the navicular. Flexor tenosynovitis in the rheumatoid hand may present as carpal tunnel syndrome or ruptured flexor tendons. The condition is associated with invasive rheumatoid granulation tissue, vasculitis, ischemic necrosis due to compartment compression, and attrition rupture due to navicular bony protuberance.