Kaleb Michaud, Ph.D., has for a long time listened to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) talking about improved quality of life after their total joint replacements. But until now, there’s been little information that actually measures how the surgery impacts quality of life for RA patients.
Much more information is known about the outcomes in osteoarthritis (OA) patients with the same surgery, even though RA is the most common inflammatory arthritis indicated for surgery.
A new knee can give OA patients 10-20 years of painless use whereas RA continues affecting the joint soon afterward,” he said. “It’s an important and effective treatment, but patients with RA shouldn’t expect the same, often dramatic results experienced by their OA counterparts. You’ve gotten rid of a knee plagued by arthritis, not the arthritis itself. Still, it’s an important option that can dramatically improve the patient’s quality of life.
Source: Medical News Today