Active Arthritis in the Fingers

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Diagram showing sites of active severe arthritis involving the distal inter-phalangeal joints (where the black spots are – see arrows).

Arthritis is a very common problem especially as we get older from “wear and tear” of the joints.

It usually presents with pain, swelling and morning stiffness in the early stages, followed by deformity as the disease progresses over years resulting and loss of function.

Hence, it is crucial if it can be diagnosed earlier BEFORE the deformity sets in.

X-ray only picks up when erosion of the joints and deformity has set in. It is completely normal in the early stages of arthritis where inflammation is the predominant process. This is where a Bone Scan can help as it picks up inflammation of joints affected by arthritis.

By Dr Johan Wijaya|October 9th, 2019|Bone Scan|

About the Author: Dr Johan Wijaya

Dr Wijaya graduated from the University of Sydney in 1991. In 2000 he became Fellow of the RACP having completed his Nuclear Medicine training at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) and St Vincent’s Hospital well as PET at Liverpool Hospital. Previous appointments include Locum Staff Specialist at RNSH and providing Nuclear Cardiology Services for Sydney Cardiology Group before embarking into his own practice – JW Nuclear Medicine in 2007. His main interests include nuclear cardiology and musculoskeletal imaging. He has completed further training at St Vincent’s Hospital and achieved accreditation for CT Coronary Angiography. He speaks Indonesian, Malay and Hokkien.