There is a lack of uniform systems for assessing outcomes after surgery in patients with RA.

Factors known to affect outcome are disease activity, pharmacological treatment, comorbidities, desires and motivation.

The consequences of disease influence to a high degree the patients’ quality of life, their ADL, working ability and recreational activities. That makes it important to measure the result from the patient’s perspective as well as reporting demographic data, disease activity, co-morbidities, functional status and surgical data.

We have found that patients with RA assigned for orthopaedic surgery seem to be most concerned about pain relief. The SF-36 scores also indicate that the patients’ physical function, pain and general health were more deteriorated than their social function and mental health. By following patients prospectively we will have the opportunity to find out whether expectations and perception of health influence the outcome after surgery.