Introduction. Since 1981, we have used various types of the total hip prosthesis for the reconstruction of the acetabular protrusion in rheumatoid arthritis. The cemented Charnley prosthesis was used during the initial 8 years, and we experienced loosening of the cemented acetabular socket in some cases. The bipolar femoral head prosthesis, which started to be used from 1984, was one of the cementless prosthesis. And it showed high frequency of proximal migration of outerhead. The threaded socket also showed frequent loosening. To overcome these problems, we started to utilize a new method from 1988. This method included packing morselized bone grafts into the acetabulum and fix them using a porous coated socket and screws. This study describes the results of cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) for the acetabular protrusion in rheumatoid arthritiswith this method. Materials and methods. Sixty -one cementless THAs with use of porous coated acetabular socket were performed in 50 patients who had sever protruded acetabulum due to rheumatoid arthritis. The average follow –up period was 9 years and 5 months (range, 5 to 13 years). A Mallory/ Head prosthesis with porous coated socket was used in 43 hips and other types in 18 hips. In all operated hips, autogenous morselized bones were grafted on the thin acetabullar wall. Results. The clinical improvement in pain was the most apparent. X-ray findings of the grafted bone in the acetabulum showed a homogenous pattern in most cases (90. 2%) at 6 months after the operation. A radiolucent zone at a non-weight-bearing area between the grafted bone and socket was seen in 20 hips (32. 7%) for 3 years after the operation, and it gradually disappeared and changed to a sclerotic zone. Collapse and /or absorption of the grafted bone were noted in 3 hips of the patients with sever osteoporosis and high disease activity. Discussion. There are several technical key points to succeed THA in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The first is the selection of the acetabular socket. The second is the method of bone grafting, and the third is the size and the shape of grafted bones. We have used various types of prosthesis for the protruded acetabulum so far, and it was considered that the bipolar and threaded types are not acceptable because of their high frequency of proximal migration and loosening. The mass and /or block bone should not be used, because they are liable to fall into collapse. It is safely recommended to use slice or morselized bones to lead the grafts to early survival and remodelling caused by tight and close contacts. Conclusion. THA with the use of morselized bone grafting into the acetabulum and a fixation with a porous coated socket-and screws is a simple and useful procedure for treating protruded acetabulum in rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction. The wrist is the ”key-stone” of hand function. Painless stability is a prerequisite for the rheumatoid wrist to perform various manual tasks. Synovectomy of the extensor tendons and the wrist joint with a Darrach procedure is offered for painful wrists, which are not controlled by conservative treatment with medication and orthosis. Radiolunate arthrodesis is performed on wrists with an unstable radiocarpal joint and preserved midcarpal joint space. This study describes the long-term (more than 10 years) follow-up of these operative procedures. Materials and methods. The follow-up study was performed on 25 wrists in 25 rheumatoid patients (22 women and 3 men), whose average age was 52 years (range, 33 to 66 years) with an average disease duration of 12 years (range, 1 to 38 years). The average follow-up period was 12. 5 years (range, 10 to 18 years). Five wrists were Larsen-Dale-Eek’s grade II, 14 were grade III, and 6 were grade IV. Depending on the severity of bone destruction, the scaphoid in 6 wrists and the triquetrum in 3 wrists were included in the fusion site. Results. Preoperative pain (88%) and swelling (96%) decreased remarkably at follow-up (12%, 4%). Average grip strength increased significantly from 100mmHg to 140mmHg (p< 0. 01). The total arc of wrist extension/ flexion decreased to two-thirds of the preoperative arc with a major loss in flexion (preop. : 26/28degrees, follow-up: 23/13degrees). The range of forearm rotation increased due to a Darrach procedure. In periodical X-ray assessments of 23 wrists, carpal collapse initially improved following the operation, however, it returned to the preoperative level after 5 years. Ulnar carpal shift improved significantly after the operation (p< 0. 01), and the position remained unchanged over 10 years. In palmar carpal subluxation, no remarkable change was noted. Bone union occurred in 87% of the operated wrists and the remaining 13% had fibrous union. Widening at the lunocapitate joint (> 2mm) was noted in 4 wrists (17%) and progressive instability at the midcarpal joint occurred in one wrist with the mutilating type of disease. Narrowing (< 1mm) was noted in 5 wrists (22%) and 3 wrists were totally fused in the functional position. Discussion. Radiolunate arthrodesis provides good stability with some motion for the moderately deteriorated rheumatoid wrist more than 10 years after the operation, in spite of some radiological progression of the disease. This operation is considered to convert the natural course of the rheumatoid wrist from the unstable form to the stable form

Introduction. The wrist is the ”key-stone” of hand function. Painless stability is a prerequisite for the rheumatoid wrist to perform various manual tasks. Synovectomy of the extensor tendons and the wrist joint with a Darrach procedure is offered for painful wrists, which are not controlled by conservative treatment with medication and orthosis. Radiolunate arthrodesis is performed on wrists with an unstable radiocarpal joint and preserved midcarpal joint space. This study describes the long-term (more than 10 years) follow-up of these operative procedures. Materials and methods. The follow-up study was performed on 25 wrists in 25 rheumatoid patients (22 women and 3 men), whose average age was 52 years (range, 33 to 66 years) with an average disease duration of 12 years (range, 1 to 38 years). The average follow-up period was 12. 5 years (range, 10 to 18 years). Five wrists were Larsen-Dale-Eek’s grade II, 14 were grade III, and 6 were grade IV. Depending on the severity of bone destruction, the scaphoid in 6 wrists and the triquetrum in 3 wrists were included in the fusion site. Results. Preoperative pain (88%) and swelling (96%) decreased remarkably at follow-up (12%, 4%). Average grip strength increased significantly from 100mmHg to 140mmHg (p< 0. 01). The total arc of wrist extension/ flexion decreased to two-thirds of the preoperative arc with a major loss in flexion (preop. : 26/28degrees, follow-up: 23/13degrees). The range of forearm rotation increased due to a Darrach procedure. In periodical X-ray assessments of 23 wrists, carpal collapse initially improved following the operation, however, it returned to the preoperative level after 5 years. Ulnar carpal shift improved significantly after the operation (p< 0. 01), and the position remained unchanged over 10 years. In palmar carpal subluxation, no remarkable change was noted. Bone union occurred in 87% of the operated wrists and the remaining 13% had fibrous union. Widening at the lunocapitate joint (> 2mm) was noted in 4 wrists (17%) and progressive instability at the midcarpal joint occurred in one wrist with the mutilating type of disease. Narrowing (< 1mm) was noted in 5 wrists (22%) and 3 wrists were totally fused in the functional position. Discussion. Radiolunate arthrodesis provides good stability with some motion for the moderately deteriorated rheumatoid wrist more than 10 years after the operation, in spite of some radiological progression of the disease. This operation is considered to convert the natural course of the rheumatoid wrist from the unstable form to the stable form

Aim. Patients with late acute periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) and treated with surgical debridement have a high failure rate. Previous studies have shown that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an independent risk factor for treatment failure. We conducted a case-control study to identify predictors for failure in late acute PJI treatment in RA patients. We hypothesize that patients with RA have a higher failure rate compared to controls due to the use of immunosuppressive drugs. Method. Data of an international multicenter retrospective observational study was used. Late acute PJI was defined as a sudden onset of symptoms and signs of a PJI, more than 3 months after implantation. Failure of treatment was defined as persistent signs of infection, relapse with the same or reinfection with a different micro-organism, need for prosthesis removal or death. Cases with RA were matched with cases without RA based on the affected joint. A Cox survival analyses, stratified for RA, was used to calculate hazard ratio's (HR) for failure. Subgroup analyses were used to explore other predictors for treatment failure in RA patients. Results. A total of 40 patients with RA and 80 controls without RA were included. Treatment failure occurred in 65% patients with RA compared to 45% for controls (p= .052). 68% of patients with RA used immunosuppressive drugs at time of PJI diagnosis. The use or continuation of immunosuppressive drugs in PJI was not associated with a higher failure rate; neither were the duration of symptoms and causative microorganism. The time between implantation of the prosthetic joint and diagnosis of infection was longer in RA patients: median 110 (IQR 41-171) vs 29 months (IQR 7.5–101.25). Exchange of mobile components was associated with a lower risk of treatment failure (HR 0.489, 95% CI 0.242–0.989, p-value .047). Conclusions. The use of immunosuppressive drugs does not seem to be associated with a higher failure rate in patients with RA. Mobile exchange in RA patients is associated with a lower risk of failure. This might be due to the significantly older age of the prosthesis in RA patients. Future studies are needed to explore these associations and its underlying pathogenesis

Objectives: The major objective of the present study was to investigate the risk of revision of infection after primary total knee replacements (TKR) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during a 13-year period. We wished to compare RA patients with OA patients in order to detect differences in the risk of revision for infection, and to compare changes in the risk for the two patient groups over time. Furthermore we studied the time from primary implantation to revision for infection in the two groups. Patients and Methods: From January 1994 to June 2008, 2482 primary TKRs in patients with RA and 25189 in OA patients were identified in the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, with revision for infection as the endpoint, were constructed. Cox regression analyses were performed to calculate relative risk (RR) of revision for infection according to diagnosis, age, gender, year of surgery (from 1994 through 2000 and from 2001 to June 2008) and time of revision related to the time of primary TKR. All relative risks were adjusted for the other variables. Results: The 5-year revision rate for infection of TKR was 1.1% in RA patients and 0.5% in OA patients. Rheumatoid arthritis patients had a 1.7 (95%CI 1.2–2.6) times higher risk of revision for infection compared to the control group (OA patients). The patients who had TKR surgery in the later period had a decreased risk of revision for infection (RR 0.72, 95%CI 0.53–0.98) compared to the time period 1994–2000. Furthermore, the risk of revision for late infection in RA patients, increased compared to OA from 4 years after the index operation. Conclusion: Patients with RA undergoing total knee replacement surgery were at a higher risk of revision for prosthetic joint infection and had a higher risk of late infections leading to revision, than patients with OA. These findings emphasizes the importance of preoperative management and optimizing preventive strategies, especially in this patient group

Fracture repair is a wound healing process that in young healthy patients usually proceeds to uncomplicated union. However, the healing cascade is delayed with increasing age, medication and certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Recently the important role of the immune system in fracture repair has become apparent within the emerging subject of Osteoimmunology. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have an altered immune system and therefore we have investigated the hypothesis that patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher incidence of non-union after a fracture compared to patients without rheumatoid arthritis. Method: The Edinburgh Royal Infirmary computer database was searched over a 10 year period (May 1996- May 2006) to identify all patients with non-union out of the total number of patients presenting with fractures. These patients groups were then subdivided into patients that had and did not have rheumatoid arthritis. Patients were excluded if they were lost to follow up, or if the fracture either occurred before the May 1996 or management continued passed May 2006. In this study non-union was defined as failure to heal within expected timescale and lack of progression at serial x-rays (all non-union were diagnosed at least 3 months from fracture). Results: From May 1996 through to May 2006, 8,456 patients with fracture were defined. 71 of these patients with fractures had rheumatoid arthritis. Of these patients 63 had union of their fractures whilst 8 patients developed non-union of their fracture (11.3%). In a total of 8385 non rheumatoid arthritis patients 164 developed non-union of their fracture compared to 8221 patients who had union of their fractures (2%). Comparison between these two patient groups suggests rheumatoid arthritis patients are more likely to develop non-union of traumatic fractures (Chi squared test, p value < 0.001). Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who progressed to non-union were on the following medication, Gold (1), Indomethacin (1), Non steroidal anti-inflammatories (4), Combination analgesia (2), Antihypertensives (2), Omeprazole (1) and Thyroxine (1). Discussion: The results from this study suggest that patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a greater incidence of non-union after a fracture compared to patients without rheumatoid arthritis. This maybe due to the abnormal immune system in rheumatoid arthritis patients. However rheumatoid arthritis patients are often on a number of medications and these drugs rather than the innate alteration of the immune system may be responsible for the altered healthy response. However whether as a result of the rheumatoid arthritis itself or the medication, our study demonstrates a higher non-union rate in the rheumatoid arthritis patients and this needs to be taken into account when treating rheumatoid arthritis patients with fractures

Purpose. The failure rate of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) in rheumatoid patients may be higher than in osteoarthritis patients due to the medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and the comorbidities associated with this disease. The purpose of this study was to prospectively look at the intermediate-term outcomes of TAA in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and to compare the results to a matched cohort of patients with ankle osteoarthritis undergoing TAA. Method. This study is a prospective, multicentre comparison study of patients two to eight years post-TAA. A cohort of 57 patients with rheumatoid arthritis was identified from the prospective national database of TAAs (RA group). Matched controls were identified in the database using age, type of prosthesis, and follow-up time as matching criteria (OA group). The following data was collected: demographic information, previous and additional surgeries at the time of TAA and major and minor complications including revisions. Generic and disease specific, validated outcome scores collected include the Short-Form 36 (SF36) and Ankle Osteoarthritis Score (AOS). Results. Each group consisted of 42 female and 15 male patients with an average follow-up of four years. The two groups were similar with an average age of 59.55 years (33–82) in the RA group and 58.13 years (36–85) in the osteoarthritis group and an average BMI of 25.77 kg/m2 in the RA group and 27.70 kg/m2 in the OA group. Preoperative AOS scores were similar in both groups: 64.42 for pain and 72.59 for disability in the RA group and 58.39 for pain and 72.37 for disability in the OA group. There was a significant improvement at latest follow-up: 16.64 for pain and 27.03 for disability in the RA group and 11.75 for pain and 22.66 for disability in the OA group. The OA group had a greater improvement in the SF-36 physical component score (29.97 to 41.29 versus 26.88 to 34.82 in the RA group) whereas the RA group had a greater improvement in the mental component score (49.71 to 56.90 versus 48.99 to 52.02 in the OA group). There was a higher rate of additional surgeries, predominantly hindfoot fusions, in the RA group than the OA group (33 versus 13). Revision rates were similar between the two groups with two revisions in the RA group and three in the OA group. There were no major wound complications in the OA group and two in the RA group. Conclusion. Total ankle arthroplasty is a good option for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A greater number of additional surgeries were required to balance the foot and support the ankle replacement in the rheumatoid patients than in the osteoarthritis patients. Both groups showed similar improvement in a generic quality of life outcome measure (SF36) and a disease specific functional outcome measure (AOS). Revision rates were similar between the groups; however, the patients with rheumatoid arthritis had a higher rate of wound complications

Objectives. Biologic agents (BIO) drastically changed the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy from starting to use biologics at 2003 in Japan. The rate of orthopaedic surgery, especially total joint arthroplasty (TJA) may reflect trends in disease severity, management and health outcomes. Methods. We surveyed the number and rate of orthopaedic surgeries and TJA in RA treatment with BIO in the last decade, so called BIO-era. Results. We had 18,701 cases of orthopaedic surgeries, including 491 rheumatoid surgeries from 2004 to 2013. They contained 382 cases of total joint arthroplasties (78%), including 258 total knee arthroplasty (TKA), 80 total hip arthroplasty (THA), 18 total elbow arthroplasty (TEA), 14 total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), 4 swanson arthroplasty for fingers. The numbers of orthopaedic surgery increased year by year. The rate of rheumatoid surgeries not changed in the last decade (r=0.8, p<0.05, Fig. 1). The numbers of TSA and TEA in 2009–2013 increased twice compared to them in 2004–2008, but TKA and THA not changed. We had 241 RA patients treated by biologics agents from 2003, including 60 rheumatoid surgeries with the biologic therapy. Over half of rheumatoid surgeries were TJA (37 cases; 61%), including 26 cases for lower joint; 11 cases for upper joint. The rate of upper TJA more increased than that of lower joint in the RA patients with BIO in this decade. Conclusion. TJA for upper joint that improve the quality of life may increase in the RA patients with biologic therapy, because their disease activity and attitudes have changed year by year in this BIO-era

Introduction. The systematic effects of joint replacement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are that inflamed synovium and pathological articular cartilage has dissipated. Expectations of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are reduction of inflammatory cytokines, decreased disease activity and improvement of drug efficacy and ADL. Remission of rheumatoid arthritis is defined as having a Disease Activity Score DAS28 (ESR) of less than 2.6 and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) – Disability Index, less than 0.5. Purpose. We investigated whether TKA could reduce disease activity and improve ADL, and subsequent remission levels of DAS and HAQ or not. Material and Methods. We analyzed the Knee Society Score (KSS), KOOS score and DAS28 in 15 patients, 23 rheumatoid arthritic knees at pre-operation and 1 year after operation. Preoperatively patients had used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, prednisolone, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs including methotrexate. TKA (Zimmer NexGen LPS Flex Knee implants and Stemmed Tibial component with stem) was performed with the modified gap technique or modified anatomical technique using original tensor with synovectomy. Results. Preoperative and postoperative KSS are 45.7±18.1 and 88.7±17.7 (P<0.01) respectively, and function scores were 40.1±21.7 and 74.8±24.0 (P<0.01) respectively (Figure 1). Preoperative and postoperative KOOS score (%) were ‘pain’ 50.6±37.8 and 95.4±19.3 (P<0.01), ‘symptom’ 56.6±32.8 and 94.7±18.6 (P<0.01), ‘ADL’ 60.6±27.9 and 89.5±32.4 (P<0.01), ‘QOL’ 28.4±32.1 and 63.6 ±22.9 (P<0.01) and ‘sport’ 20.56±29.52 and 47.10±33.9(P=0.06), respectively (Figure 2). Preoperative and postoperative DAS28(CRP) were 4.48±1.08 and 3.58±1.11(P<0.01), and DAS28 (ESR) were 4.90±1.02 and 4.13±0.99 (P=0.02) (Figure 3). Discussion. Each scores except ‘sport’ and DAS28 (ESR) improved statistically 1 year after operation. Function score, ‘ADL’ and ‘QOL’ scores also improved. HAQ score includes 2 categories related to walking ability and TKA was expected to improve the HAQ score, although the HAQ score is highly affected by upper arm function. The ‘sport’ score did not improve because almost all patients did not do sports preoperatively and postoperatively. DAS28 (ESR) and DAS28 (CRP) correlate strongly, but in this study there were statistical discrepancies in improvement. This might be because age, sex, disease duration, and existence of rheumatoid factors, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and DLA-DRB1 shared epitope have been shown to influence ESR. DAS28 improved by a little less than 1.0, but there was limited control of disease activity. It was reported that the average DAS 28 didn't drop below 3.2 in 3 years follow-up after TKA. In this study we did not assess depending on preoperative disease activity, but it was reported that TKA had a systematic effect on severe or moderate RA activity, not low disease activity

The purpose of this diagnostic, cross-sectional study, was to determine the predictive value of clinical examination versus ultrasonographic evaluation in rheumatoid arthritis patients, suspected of having rotator cuff disease. The left and right shoulders of fifty consecutive patients from the rheumatoid clinic were subjected to clinical examination by a senior registrar in the department. Impingement was evaluated using the Neer, Hawkins and posterior impingement tests. The supra-spinatus tendon insertion (Jobe test), infraspinatusteres minor tendon insertions (resisted external rotation) and subscapularis tendon insertion (Gerber lift-off and push-off tests) into the rotator cuff were evaluated for a possible tear. A Professional Sport Sonographer, located in a separate examination room then performed an ultrasonographic evaluation on all of the patients. The clinical results were compared to the ultrasound results, hoping to find a method that will improve our current screening of rheumatoid patients for rotator cuff disease and planning of possible surgical treatment. A significant difference was found between the clinical and sonographic evaluation of the rotator cuffs. Impingement tests showed a false positive result of 85–89%, while the tests for cuff tears had a false negative value of 87–91% compared to ultrasound evaluation. A total disagreement of 45.8–60% and total agreement of 39.5–54.1% could be explained by the fact the synovitis is the hallmark of rheumatoid disease, which could cause pain without tears or impingement. The authors conclude that clinical examination of the rotator cuff in patients with rheumatoid disease is unreliable, and that ultrasound examination should form a routine part of the evaluation of all rheumatoid shoulders

The wrist is one of the main targets of rheumatoid arthritis. The classic pattern of deformity and destruction shows involvement of the radio-carpal and the radio-ulnar joint with destabilization of the carpus, resulting in a ulnar sliding of the wrist. With ongoing disease a radial tilting and a carpal supination is observed. Although considered as a uniform systemic disease of immunogenetical background the patients show various courses of this disease. The recognition of the pattern of progression may have implications on the management and also on the surgical treatment of the patients. Most currently used classifications of wrist deformity include mainly the actual destruction of the carpal joints but do not include the different possible pattern of progression. For optimal surgical treatment of rheumatoid wrists it seems mandatory to recognize the type of destruction if possible already at early stages of the disease. Based on radiological long-term analysis, Simmen et al. proposed a new classification of rheumatoid wrist involvement considering the type of destruction and possible future development with direct consequences for surgical decisions. Three pattern of destruction are distinguished, based on the morphology of destruction and the course over the duration of the disease. Serial radiographs allow the classification in either type I, II or III wrists. Type I rheumatoid wrists show a spontaneous tendency for ankylosis type II wrists remain stable and show a destruction pattern which resembles osteoarthritic changes and type III wrists show a disintegration with progressive destruction and loss of alignment. Type II is further subtyped in III a with more ligamentous destabilization and type III b shows bony destruction with finally complete loss of the wrist architecture. The classification into the different types of the natural course of the disease at wrist level is based on serial radiographs and measurement of carpal height ratio and ulnar translation. A change in the carpal height ratio of more than 0.015 and/or an increase of ulnar translation of more than 1.5 mm per year classifies a wrist in the type III category. Type I and II wrists have a low probability undergoing radiocarpal dislocation. Therefore surgical treatment including wrist and tendon synovectomy and usually ulnar head resection, gives satisfactory results also in the long-term. In contrast type III wrists, because of ligamentous and/or bony destruction, require a procedure which provides realignment and stability

Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis also affects the spine and creates conditions that need surgical treatment. As in other parts of the body, the maintenance of function and reduction of pain are primary goals of surgical treatment, however the additional threat to the neurological structures create an additional dimension in the surgical treatment of the spine. Destructive processes of osteoligamentous structures and severe osteoporosis may be blamed as the principle cause for pain, deformity and subsequent neurological deficit in the rheumatoid patient’s spine. Cervical spine Atlantoaxial instability is the most frequently encountered pathology in the cervical spine of the rheumatoid patient. In order to avoid late appearance of myelopathy, the timing of surgery in the presence of significant atlantoaxial instability (ADD < 5mm) has to be carefully evaluated. The tendency is towards early surgical stabilization since no spontaneous improvement is to be expected in cases with aggressive rheumatoid arthritis. Late surgery not only carries the risk of causing myelopathy by repeated micro-trauma of the myelon, but also the need for extensive surgery including the occiput and the lower cervical spine in case of advanced destructive processes. The subaxial cervical spine has a tendency to disintegrate in the presence of aggressive course of rheumatoid arthritis. The extent of instability and site of compression has to be carefully analyzed, using MRI and neurophysiological examinations. Due to weak bone structures anterior and posterior interventions are often necessary. Lumbar spine The rheumatoid pathology in the lumbar spine is mainly influenced by the degree of osteoporosis. Typical osteoporotic fractures, often on several levels, represent the most frequent pathology, which needs surgical help. In case of persistent pain the relatively new technique of vertebroplasty offers an elegant way to reduce pain. If severe deformities occur, the osteoporotic structure of bone limits the surgical possibility of correction of the deformity. Conclusion “Wait and see”-policy in rheumatoid patients with spinal pathology is often not appropriate (as in other joints of the body) if function and neurology should be preserved and maintained. Early surgery represents usually minor intervention and is better tolerated than extensive corrections. Osteoporosis is the main limitation for surgical treatment in the rheumatoid spine

Introduction and Aims: Numerous internal as well as external fixation techniques have been reported for achieving tibiotalocalcaneal fusion in rheumatoid arthritis with varying results. The purpose of this study was to assess the union rate and functional outcome following tibiotalocalcaneal fusion using the locked supracondylar nail. Method: Twenty-four patients (27 ankles) were followed up. The mean age being 57 years (44–73 years) and mean follow-up was 37.4 months (10–74 months). Severe disabling ankle pain was the indication for operation in all cases. Standard operative technique and post-operative mobilisation protocol was followed. Seventeen cases had ankle debridement. The severity of rheumatoid arthritis was assessed using the Fries scoring system. Results were analysed using Rheumatoid ankle score (RAS), modified American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Score (AOFAS). All the patients were evaluated for clinical and radiological evidence of union. Results: The mean Fries score of 2.3 suggest that most of the patients in the study group were affected by severe rheumatoid arthritis. The mean RAS score was 77 (35–95) and mean AOFAS score was 74.6 (40–95). Using the rheumatoid ankle scoring system, five ankles (20%) were rated excellent, ten ankles (40%) were rated good, six ankles (24%) were rated fair and four (16%) were rated poor. In general, patients who had ankle debridement at the time of nailing fared well in terms of clinical, radiological union and ankle scoring. Conclusion: Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with supracondylar nail in rheumatoid arthritis provides pain-free stable joint and satisfactory functional outcome. Better functional results are achieved with bony union and this can be achieved only with joint debridement

Introduction. Severe acetabular bone stock loss compromises the outcome in primary and revision total hip arthroplasty. This acetabular deficienca occurs very often in Rheumatoid Arthritis. In 1979 a biologic method was introduced with tightly impacted cancellous allograft in combination with a cemented polyethylene cup for acetabular reconstruction. With this technique it is possible to replace the loss of bone and restore hip function with a standard implant. Because of the poor long term results and our own experience with large solid grafts we started in 1998 to use the impaction grafting in primary and revision hip replacements in Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Materials and Methods. Between 1998 and 2001 35 acetabular reconstructions were performed in 29 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 3 Patients were lost to follow up. 24 primary and 11 Revision Arthroplasties were performed. The average age was 55( 22-73. 29 female, 6 male. 58 Patients had additional dysplasia. We had cavitary, segmental and also combined defects. Femoral head autografts were used in all primaries, allografts were used in revision surgery. Firstly the peripheral and central segmental defects were close with a metal mesh, so that only a cavitary defect remained. The cavity was filled with bone chips which were impacred layer by layer. To strabilize these reconstruction cement was used in direct contact with the graft. In the Merle d’ Aubigne Score an improvement in pain, walking ability and function were observed. We had 1case of aseptic loosening, in a 73 year old female. After 10 month the grafts were incorporated. Our results are short term results- compared to the international literature ( Rosenberg et al. ) Nevertheless we can confirm the technique can be used with good results in cases with severe acetabular defects due to rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: The standard implant for patients with rheumatoid arthritis is a cemented system. Early aseptic loosening is a major concern in patients with bad bone quality, usually seen in inflammatory arthritis. Aim of the study: The aim of this retrospective study is to find out, whether the cementless CLS-stem is an appropriate implant for patients with rheumatoid or juvenile arthritis. Material and methods: Between 1984 and 2002 63 patients with rheumatoid or juvenile arthritis were treated with a cementless Stem (CLS) in our clinic. The mean age was 53 years (range from 25 to 71 years). We evaluated the x-rays (aseptic loosening and other complications) as well as the clinical outcome (Harris Hip Score). Patients with a minimum follow-up of 24 months (mean fu 5 years) were included in the study. Results: There was no stem revision due to aseptic loosening. No patient had radiological signs of aseptic loosening. 8 patients suffered a fracture of the greater trochanter or the proximal femur during surgery. Two patients had to be revised for trochanteric problems. Conclusion: The cementless CLS stem is an appropriate implant for patients with rheumatoid or juvenile arthritis. Careful implantation is necessary to avoid trochanteric or femoral fractures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of treatment of rheumatoid elbows with Kudo Total Elbow Replacements. Between 1993–1997 we performed 39 Kudo Total Elbow Replacements in 35 patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, aged 39–81 years old (mean age: 60,7 yrs). Eleven patients (13 elbows) were male and 24 (26 elbows) were female. Twenty-eight (28) replacements were performed on the right side and eleven (11) on the left. All the patients were evaluated clinically (pre-op and post-op, using Mayo score system) and radiographically. In seven elbows another procedure (radial head excision (three), radial head excision & synovectomy (three), arthroscopy & interposition arthroplasty(one)) had been performed previously for the rheumatoid arthritis. Eight elbows seemed to have ulnar nerve problems pre-op. We followed-up 31 patients (35 elbows). Mean follow-up was 5years (range: 4–8 years). The pre-operative pain had been reduced significantly in almost all patients. In the majority, the movement had also been improved post-operatively. Two elbows were unstable (one subluxated, one dislocated). Both presented early postoperatively. Only one patient developed a postoperative ulnar nerve problem and that resolved. One elbow had a delay in wound healing. Radiolucency appeared around both the humeral and ulnar components in five elbows, around humeral component in two and around ulnar component also in two. Five elbow replacements were revised. Four of them due to aseptic loosening and one due to instability problem (dislocation). No deep infection was noticed in any elbow. In our hands, Kudo Elbow Replacements seemed to have aseptic loosening rates comparable to other series and low dislocation rates

Aim:. To review the short to medium term radiological, clinical and functional outcomes of reconstructive surgery for severe forefoot deformities in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis. Methods:. We conducted a review of prospectively collected data of patients with Rheumatoid arthritis who received reconstructive surgery for forefoot deformities. Patients requiring metatarso-phalangeal joint arthrodesis and excision of the lesser metatarsals for hallux valgus, dislocation of the lesser metatarso-phalangeal joints and intractable plantar keratosis were included. The patients were followed up at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. X-Rays were performed preoperatively, postoperatively, at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months follow-up. Patients completed a SF36, and AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and ankle Score) forefoot score preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. Results:. Ten feet in eight patients were included in the study. Follow-up was for a minimum of 6 months. All patients were female, with an average age of 58 years (34–69 years). Radiologically there was an average correction in the hallux valgus angle from 48 degrees to 15 degrees. The inter-metatarsal angle improved from 14 to 9 degrees. Objective scores were significantly improved. The mean SF36 score pre-operatively was 36 (24–54) and 67 (54–82) post operatively (P < 0.05). The AOFAS score improved from a mean of 32 (28–50) pre operatively to 74 (64–78) post-operatively (p < 0.05). One patient required re-operation for further metatarsal shortening due to ongoing pain and two patients required oral antibiotics for minor superficial wound infections. All hallux metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis procedures united in a mean time of 3.5 months. Conclusion:. Forefoot reconstruction in these very symptomatic, disabled patients resulted in significant deformity correction and improvement in function and pain. The complication rate was low. Adequate resection of the lesser metatarsals is necessary to avoid ongoing pain from the phalanx articulating with the metatarsal

Introduction: Foot and ankle involvement in rheumatoid arthritis is common. Pain and disability secondary to planovalgus deformity and the arthritic process are difficult to control with conservative measures. Arthroplasty of the ankle is associated with high failure rates and does not completely correct the deformity. Arthrodesis of the hindfoot is a good option to alleviate pain, correct the deformity and improve functional ability, however has not been well reported in the literature. Aims: To determine change in quantitative measures of patient health, pain and functional ability following hindfoot arthrodesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and to assess patient satisfaction postoperatively. Methods: 24 consecutive additive hindfoot arthrodeses were performed by a single surgeon on 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients were assessed preoperatively using the Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12), Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) and pain scores. These assessments were repeated at 6 and 12 months postoperatively, with an additional satisfaction questionnaire. Results: There was a marked and sustained improvement in the post-operative SF-12, MOXFQ and pain scores, with 71% of patients reporting no pain at 12 months. 19 out of 22 patients reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the operation. Bony union was achieved in all patients, both on clinical and radiological criteria. Most patients returned to normal footwear, some with slight modification to facilitate a more normal gait cycle. Conclusions: This study shows that additive hindfoot arthrodesis can be a very effective procedure in the management of moderate to severe ankle and hind-foot disease in rheumatoid arthritis. Patients should be counselled regarding the considerable recovery period; however significant improvement in the patient’s general health, foot function and pain can be expected

Introduction: Shoulder arthroplasty in rheumatoid patients gives satisfactory pain relief and some recovery of motion. Long term complications are however frequent, such as loosening of the glenoid and rotatorcuff insufficiency. Proximal migration (PM) might be related to both these conditions, and is assumed to lead to deterioration in function and recurrence of pain. Goal: Aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and identify risk factors for proximal migration after shoulder arthroplasty in a rheumatoid population. Methods and patients: Data of 102 patients (FU 5.8 yrs) treated with a shoulder arthroplasty for rheumatoid gleno-humeral disease was analysed. Requirements were at least 3 years of follow–up and 3 follow-up moments. At each visit clinical scores and standardised radiographs were performed prospectively. Rotator-cuff status was scored per-operatively. For quantification of PM a validated measurement technique - The Spina Humeral centre method- was used. A significant decrease of the subacromial space was defined as more than two times the standard deviation of the measurement accuracy (3.65 mm). Results: In 25 of 77 cases PM was present. PM commenced in two separate patterns, determined by the time-frame that passed before PM commenced. Early PM started directly during postoperative rehabilitation within the first two postoperative years, late PM after two years. This allowed group formation according to migration pattern; patients with no PM (PMnone), patients with late PM (PMlate) and those with early PM (PMearly). Age was higher in the PMearly group. Rotator cuff tears were more frequent and more severe in the PM groups. The ROM improved postoperatively in the PMnone and PMlate group, with deterioration of the latter in time. The HSS clinical outcome score improved in all groups. Quality of rotator cuff repair did not alter PM outcome. PM did not occur more frequently in hemi-artho-plasty compared to total shoulder arthroplasty. A more upward oriented glenoid was observed in the PMearly and PMlate groups

Reconstruction of deficient bone stock during total elbow arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis represents a challenge for the surgeon. Fracture and osteolysis of the olecranon process is a very rare condition in rheumatoid arthritis. The consequence of a deficient olecranon is an instable and painful elbow. We report a case of successful olecranon reconstruction with bone graft associated to total elbow arthroplasty with a 8 years follow up and discuss surgical aspects. This case concerns a 44 years old woman with a very severe rheumatoid arthritis. She complains of pain and instability of her right elbow. X-rays show fracture and major osteolysis of the olecranon process with only some persistent bone at the insertion of the triceps tendon. The humeral condyles were subluxated posteriorly. We performed a total elbow replacement with a GSB3 implant and reconstruction of the olecranon with two cancellous iliac bone strut fixed by 2.7 diameter screws to the proximal ulna. The triceps tendon with remnant olecranon bone chips was secured to the bone graft by tension band wiring. Postoperatively, the elbow was immobilized for 3 weeks. With a follow up of more than 8 years the elbow is pain free with excellent function. The active range of motion of flexion – extension is 140° / −20°. The elbow is stable and triceps function is very satisfying authorizing the use of crutches. X-rays show good bony integration of the reconstructed olecranon process and no signs of loosening of the GSB3 implant. The literature concerning olecranon reconstruction during total elbow arthroplasty in rheumatoid patients is very poor. Kamineni and Morrey reported on one case of olecranon reconstruction with strut allograft in revision total elbow arthroplasty with an unsatisfying result. Their fixation technique was different. We prefer an autograft whenever it is possible and we recommend our fixation technique using screws and tension band wiring