Open AccessA simplified twenty‐eight–joint quantitative articular index in rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Fuchs Howard A.,
Brooks Raye H.,
Callahan Leigh F.,
Pincus Theodore
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/anr.1780320504
Subject(s) - medicine , shoulders , interphalangeal joint , rheumatoid arthritis , rheumatism , grip strength , metacarpophalangeal joint , orthodontics , physical therapy , surgery , thumb
We describe a joint index that includes only 28 joints: 10 proximal interphalangeal joints of the fingers, 10 metacarpophalangeal joints, and the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and knees. These joints are evaluated for swelling, tenderness, and limited motion, with the findings scored as abnormal or normal. The 28‐joint index is considerably easier to use than traditional methods, and appears to yield as much information in terms of correlation with other measures of clinical status, including hand radiograph scores, American Rheumatism Association functional class, grip strength, walking time, and activities of daily living questionnaire scores (r = 0.25–0.53, P < 0.001). Simplified joint counts might facilitate acquisition of quantitative articular data in research and clinical rheumatologic settings.