Document Detail


Giant gouty tophi of the hand and wrist.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22049969     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Gout is an inflammatory-rheumatic disease characterized by an elevated serum urate concentration and recurrent flares, including painful, hot, red, and swollen joints and surrounding tissue. Untreated gout often develops into a chronic disease with tophi and destruction of joint surfaces. Giant tophi are often resistant to medication and change in diet.This article presents a case of a 44-year-old man with giant gouty tophi at his hand and wrist. The last acute gout flare in his left wrist was approximately 3 years prior. For 2 years he had refused adequate nutrition, such as a low-purine diet, and had refused to take any preventive medication. Blood urate level was elevated to 8.7 mg/dL (normal range, 3.4-7.0 mg/dL). In time, the tophi led to a massive limitation of motion and use of especially the left wrist and thumb. Under the condition that the patient changed his diet and took the medication for his underlying disease, we surgically removed the almost skin-perforating tophi. Surgical debulking significantly improved joint function and cosmetic appearance.The best treatment for gouty tophi is prevention by ensuring adequate nutrition, treating the underlying causes, and taking effective medication. In the case of massive limitation of joint motion, skin breakdown with risk of infection, and compression of neurovascular structures, surgical debulking of the tophi should be considered.
Authors:
Falk Mittag; Markus Wuenschel
Related Documents :
19243609 - Historical overview of spinal deformities in ancient greece.
16850659 - Problems in the management of medical waste in thailand.
15862739 - The road to excellence: magnet designation, the beacon award, and primary nursing.
12161209 - Management of traumatic hyphema.
9740919 - Comprehensive management of allergic fungal sinusitis.
3904539 - Necrobiosis lipoidica: treatment with porcine dressings, split-thickness skin grafts an...
20183019 - Evidence-based medicine and the development of medical libraries in china.
8884129 - Expert testimony, legal reasoning, and justice. the case for adopting a data-based stan...
682309 - The multiproblem patient. a goal-oriented approach.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2011-11-09
Journal Detail:
Title:  Orthopedics     Volume:  34     ISSN:  1938-2367     ISO Abbreviation:  Orthopedics     Publication Date:  2011 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-11-04     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7806107     Medline TA:  Orthopedics     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  e790-2     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2011, SLACK Incorporated.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Percutaneous vertebral body cement augmentation for back pain related to occult osteomyelitis/diskit...
Next Document:  Pyogenic cervical spondylitis caused by Pasteurella haemolytica attributed to excessive contact with...