[kellyhound]

Gouty tophi are nodular masses of monosodium urate crystals deposited in the soft tissues of the body.

They are a late complication of hyperuricaemia and develop in more than half of patients with untreated gout.

Complications of tophi include pain, soft tissue damage and deformity, joint destruction and nerve compression syndromes such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Tophi appear on average 12 years after the initial attack of gout. They tend to develop earlier in women, particularly those receiving diuretics

Rarely, tophi can develop without previous acute gouty arthritis.

Lesions are normally painless, unless they affect the joint where they can be painful and if untreated cause permanent damage.

The most common sites are the fingers and the helix / anti-helix of the ears.

They can be found in multiple locations such as the toes, in the olecranon bursae, and along the olecranon, where they can resemble rheumatoid nodules.

Tophi contain a white pasty material and as they enlarge they work their way towards the skin surface to drain.

[Nates8er]

Damn

[heartsong]

How awful! I can't imagine the pain.

[Caf002]

Hey boys and girls, this is what happens when you play with yourself too much! Who knew Sister Mary Margaret was right?

[mr_feelgood]

That music makes me want to be a Chinese communist

[Mr.NoCredit]

His fingers look like little boobies with nipples.

Poor guy though. That’s gotta suck a lot.

[HIGHTECHDUDE]

I've got the perfect job for him...