UNDERSTANDING JOINT DAMAGE
Take A Closer Look At How The Progression Of RA Can Cause Permanent Joint Damage
A pannus begins to form that can lead to the destruction of articular cartilage exposing the bone beneath it.
If your RA is not treated or is undertreated, the effects of pannus may cause additional damage to the bone itself.
In extreme instances, pannus may invade the joint further, resulting in fibrous ankylosis and possibly even bony ankylosis. Though rare because RA is not often left untreated, this condition may lead to decreased range of motion.
These images of potential disease symptoms are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be fully anatomically accurate.