Experiences in the treatment of rheumatoid deformities of the thumb at the University of Colorado Arthritis Clinic over the last eight years are described. The number of surgical cases (eighteen) is too small for any statistical analysis. In general the results have been gratifying. In most cases the patient, surgeon, and physician have been pleased with the results as all have realized that one is striving for a limited gain in function and that results in a chronic progressive disease cannot be compared with the results in static conditions. Many patients deserve evaluation for surgical reconstruction.