What is often seen in patients with boutonnieres deformities related to rheumatoid arthritis?

Boutonniere deformity is a specific condition often seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, characterized primarily by a particular positioning of the fingers. This deformity occurs when there is a rupture or attenuation of the central slip of the extensor tendons at the proximal interphalangeal joint. As a result, the affected finger exhibits flexion at the proximal interphalangeal joint while the distal interphalangeal joint may remain hyperextended.

In patients with this deformity, the hallmark presentation is indeed the flexion at the proximal interphalangeal joint, leading to the distinctive appearance of the fingers. This specific flexion is what makes this option the most accurate in describing a defining feature of boutonniere deformity in the context of rheumatoid arthritis. Other options may describe general symptoms or complications associated with rheumatoid arthritis but do not specifically capture the defining ceatures of boutonniere deformity itself.