Psoriatic Arthritis Mutilans
Psoriatic arthritis mutilans, also known as telescopic finger or opera glass hand, is the most severe form of psoriatic arthritis. It is rare and only accounts for approximately 5 percent of reported cases. The small joints of the wrist, feet, and hands are commonly affected. In people with arthritis mutilans, inflammation may be very serious, resulting in significant joint damage. The bone in the affected areas starts to disappear gradually, making it hard to bend to straighten the joints. As a result, it causes the affected joints to become shorter. Typical symptoms include bone loss, reduced range of motion or movement, and joint deformities. Many people with this form of psoriatic arthritis would also have pain in their back and neck. Since psoriatic arthritis mutilans is not common, there is not much scientific evidence on how to predict the development of this condition. What has been proved so far is that those who do not have psoriatic arthritis will not have psoriatic arthritis mutilans. [4]
