WHAT IS IT? The knuckle joints in the fingers act as hinges
between the long bones in the hand and the smaller bones in the
fingers. These joints are called metacarpophalangeal joints or
MP joints of the hand. The MP joints are important to the hand
for gripping and holding things. Pain and deformity in the
knuckle joints of the fingers are common in rheumatoid
arthritis. This pain and deformity may be caused by trauma,
gout, psoriasis, or other diseases. Diseases such as those
mentioned can injure the MP joints by ruining the structures and
muscles that move the joint, or by destroying the surface of the
joint causing pain and deformity in the knuckle. Difficulty in
using the hand for daily activities (holding or gripping a cup,
tool, or eating utensils for example) is the most common
complaint of patients with MP joint disease. These problems in
using the hand may be due to deformity, pain, or both. Many
patients notice their fingers slowly drifting (leaning) to the
little finger side of their hand. Daily a