In rheumatoid (RA) patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty, evidence suggests methotrexate should be continued without increase in post-operative infection. Prednisolone increases post-operative infection risk, but cannot be stopped without risk of Addisonian events. Insufficient evidence exists to clarify perioperative biologic agent management. We currently stop biologics 2 weeks prior to operation and reintroduced following wound healing. This service evaluation reviewed infection rates and length of stay in RA patients following lower-limb arthroplasty, on various anti-rheumatoid therapies across a 28-month period.Introduction
Patients/Materials & Methods
