The first symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis develop slowly. Periodic low-grade fever appears, accompanied by pain in joints and muscles. There are morning stiffness, tactile pain and symmetrical swelling of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the small joints of the hands and feet, less often the elbow, knee and hip joints. The diagnostic process of RA should be carried out by a rheumatologist or orthopedist.

Due to the inflammatory nature of RA, drugs to suppress arthritis and immunosuppressants are the main methods of fighting the disease. A form of non-pharmacological treatment in patients who have been taking medications for a minimum period of 3-6 months is a surgical procedure consisting in the removal of the synovial membrane of joint capsules and tendon sheaths. The synovial membrane is the primary focus of inflammation, and its resection prevents the spread of lesions to adjacent tissues and reduces the degree of deformation. Other methods of treatment include rehabilitation, the use of orthoses to stabilize the joints and psychotherapy of the patient (due to the progressive nature of RA).

Corrective boutonniere and swan neck finger deformities can be treated surgically using a tendon transfer procedure. This procedure influences the direction of the tendon forces on the finger joints and reduces the degree of deformation. Persistent deformities require arthrodesis (stiffening the joint) or implantation of an artificial finger joint prosthesis. The surgical method is selected by the surgeon who qualifies for the procedure.