Issue: Vojnosanit Pregl 2017; Vol. 74 (No. 6)

Total knee arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis – midterm results

Authors:
Zoran Blagojević, Boris Gluščević, Boban Djordjević

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Background/Aim. Total knee arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is an effective method of eliminating pain and improving functional status, but it is associated with a number of unique challenges. The aim of this study was to eva-luate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of total knee arthroplasty, as well as patient satisfaction, in this series of pati-ents with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods. Between January 2001 and 2012, 108 total knee arthroplasties in 78 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were performed, utilizing a posterior-stabilized prostheses. The average age of the patients was 58 ± 12.4 years, and 88% were females. Median follow-up of pati-ents was 80 months with interquartile range of 34 months (min-max: 36-132 months). Results. Average Knee Society score improved from preoperative 18 ± 11.4 to postoperative 83 ± 3.5, and Functional Knee Society score from 21 ± 9.9 to 50 ± 5.9. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis (WOMAC) knee injury and osteopaedic outcome scores im-proved from 23 ± 6.4 to 69 ± 4.6 postoperatively. In 25 (23.14%) knees radiolucent lines of less than 2 mm were found and they were not progressive. Survival rate excluding deep in-fection was 99.1%. Conclusion. Total knee arthroplasty is an effective procedure of treatment of damaged knee joint in pati-ents with rheumatoid arthritis.