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In Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) it is very important to recognize pathologic condition and to start proper treatment as early as possible to lessen its consequences. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography are the best imaging modalities because they depict early stages of this disease and allows to control response to treatment. MRI depicts also bone oedema, which is a strong predictor of further progression. The process of standardization is needed in assessing both MR and US pictures. Standardization allows to compared both examinations of the same patient in different time and examinations of different patients. An aim of this article is to present: MR protocols of hand and wrist MR examinations for rheumatologic demand and standards of results, according to worldwide OMERAC RAMRIS 2002 and supplemented by tenosynovitis system; proposals for US examination of hands in rheumatoid patients.

This publication presents 7 children with traumatic dislocation of the thumb, treated in University Children's Hospital in Kraków between 1993-2002. The mean age during injury was 9 years, mean observation time 2 years. One child was operated, the others had non-operative treatment. All gained good result. The literature about this dislocation has been discussed in this paper.

We report a case of 18 year old woman with pseudohypoparathyroidism type la presenting with low bone mineral density and primary hypothyroidism. The patient was diagnosed because of muscular cramps, accompanied by elevated parathormone (PTH) level and hypocalciuria, but normal serum calcium, phosphate and magnesium levels. She had features of Albright's osteodystrophy: short stature with normal bone age, shortening of IV and V metacarpal bones, and small cerebral calcifications shown by CT.

The results of surgical treatment of 195 metacarpo-phalangeal joints in 132 rheumatoid patients were evaluated. The indications for each of three operative methods were presented with clinical assessment and Larsen, Dahle, Eek scale of radiological changes taken into consideration. The results of 137 synovectomies, 32 joint replacements and 24 arthroplasties in 88% were rated as good and fair. The advantages of early synovectomy as well as joint replacement in advanced arthritis were underlined.