Total knee arthroplasty improves both knee function and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Mod Rheumatol. 2017 Sep;27(5):806-810. doi: 10.1080/14397595.2016.1265705. Epub 2016 Dec 16.

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of TKA with capsulosynovectomy on disease activity and knee function in patients with RA.

Methods: Seventy-six RA patients who underwent primary TKA with more than two years of follow-up were retrospectively reviewed to assess postoperative knee function and disease activity.

Results: Postoperative knee function was significantly improved in all clinical scores, and maintained up to 24 months after surgery. RA disease activity was significantly decreased in DAS28-CRP, CDAI, and serum CRP level, and maintained up to 24 months after surgery. Postoperative knee function was negatively correlated with RA disease activity.

Conclusions: TKA improves both knee function and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Keywords: Disease activity; Knee function; Rheumatoid arthritis; Total knee arthroplasty.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / diagnosis
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / physiopathology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / surgery
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / methods*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / physiopathology
  • Knee Joint / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acuity
  • Recovery of Function
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Synovectomy / methods*