Key result
An understanding of rheumatoid arthritis and its perioperative management may improve overall patient outcomes and prevent future complications such as infections.
Why the study?
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis requiring orthopaedic surgery can experience complications from underlying disease pathology and medications, particularly increased infection rates from immunosuppressive agents.
Understanding the disease and perioperative management of rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery may improve outcomes and prevent complications.
May inform perioperative RA education for clinicians; leaves open prospective trials to confirm outcome benefits.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which is characterised by systemic inflammation. In the recent decades, the advent of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs have reduced the need for orthopaedic procedures. However, there are numerous patients in which pharmacological treatment fails and these patients require surgical intervention. Complications can arise due to the underlying pathology and multitude of medications these patients can be on, specifically increased infection rates due to use of immunosuppressive agents. An understanding into the disease itself, as well as perioperative management, may improve overall patient outcomes and prevent future complications.
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Agarwal et al. (2019) conducted a review in Rheumatoid arthritis undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Perioperative management was evaluated. An understanding of rheumatoid arthritis and its perioperative management may improve overall patient outcomes and prevent future complications such as infections.
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