TOTAL JOINT ARTHROPLASTY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Authors:
Domagoj Delimar, Krešimir Crnogaća, Zoran Sulje
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive autoimmune disease. Despite treatment, destruction of joints develops over time. Approximately 25% of all patients with RA are required to have total joint arthroplasty during their lifetime. Th e need for operative treatment occurs when conservative therapy cannot control the underlying disease. The goal of surgical treatment is pain control and restoration of function of the affected joint. In addition to the standard preoperative preparation, attention should also be paid to the condition of the cervical spine, possible cardiovascular disease, and drugs used in the therapy of the underlying disease. In total hip replacement procedures very good results are achieved by uncemented and cemented endoprosthesis, while in the knee cemented endoprosthesis is almost exclusively used. Complications still occur more oft en than in patients with primary osteoarthritis. Periprosthetic joint infection is a serious complication occurring in about 1-3% of all cases. Implantation of a total endoprosthesis is a safe and reliable method of pain control and functional recovery in patients with RA.