RA affects 2.1 million Americans and costs the United States an estimated $8.7 billion annually in medical costs and wages. RA is a progressive disease, and approximately 25% of RA patients experience hand deformities associated with the destruction of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints. For the past 30 years, SMPA has been performed on such patients to correct metacarpophalangeal joint deformity in the rheumatoid hand. SMPA can provide pain relief, restoration of function, and aesthetic improvement to the patient. However, because data are limited on its efficacy, SMPA remains a controversial procedure. Hand surgeons and rheumatologists frequently disagree about the indications for this procedure and its value to their patients. In addition, most published studies have been hampered by inadequate consideration of research design, small sample size, and inconsistent outcome measures. The purpose of this study is to measure short- and long-term outcomes following SMPA. The study will also define indications of the surgery for specific patient groups and disease severity. The experiences of both surgery and rheumatology services will be used to jointly evaluate this surgical procedure.