At the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, it is great important to prevent articular deformities, because, once a deformity is established, these correction is very difficult.
Recently, we have made an attempt at various corrective procedures; indirect or direct traction, Quengel plaster cast, arthrodesis and protective apparatus, for nine patients with such articular deformities of the leg caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Five of nine were inability of gait, four of nine difficulty.
An analysis of our end results shows that five patients were able to walk with no stick, one with stick, and three no change.