Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2003 , Vol 49 , Num 1

Romatoid Artritli Hastalarda Ayakta Görülen Deformiteler ve Pedobarografik Değerlendirme

Nurettin Taşdemir 1 ,Hakan Tuna 2 ,Siranuş Kokino 1
1 Trakya Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Edirne
2 Trakya Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Edirne

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease of unknown etiology with progressive joint involvement and deformities causing related functional impairment.  Rheumatoid arthritis usually effects peripheral joints and also causes foot deformities. Foot involvement in this disease is of great importance as it is frequently observed and leads to social, economical and physical disturbances. In this study  we assessed  foot deformities causing differences among plantar pressures of the involved feet. The study was performed on 49 patients from Trakya region population with RA, priorly diagnosed according to ARA criteria and having been followed since then. The clinical status of the patients were evaluated. Radiological investigations were performed so as to assess deformities. The static and dynamic pedogram values were noted. The correlations between age, sex, body mass index, disease duration and pedogram values were assessed. We observed pes planus in 29, hallux valgus in 22, subtalar valgus in 13, hammer toe in 12 and clap toe in 4 of the patients. Radiological evaluation revealed calcaneal spurs (18/49), achilles tendon calcifications (14/49).  We observed that each deformity caused different, spesific results and had various biomechanical effects.  For this reason pedographic evaluation seemed to be essential for the follow up periods of deformities and for evaluating their biomechanical effects in patients with RA

Keywords : Rheumatoid arthritis, deformity, plantar pressure Distributio