Foot function following forefoot reconstruction in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease
primarily manifesting in the synovial joints and associated
structures. In those patients with long-standing erosive disease,
foot impairments (pain, stiffness and deformity) are common.
Foot assessment is challenging in complex cases and may be
aided by newer investigative techniques including instrumented
gait analysis. Management requires multidisciplinary team input
but care pathways have yet to be established and the evidence
base is in its infancy. This case study highlights the assessment,
investigation and management of a patient with RA with longstanding
erosive disease with complex foot impairments. It
focuses on a number of key issues related to the assimilation of
clinical, disease and investigative data in the process of clinical
decision making, treatment planning and outcome. Particular
emphasis is placed on the use of instrumented gait analysis in
these processes.