For RA patients undergoing TKR, the gain in function at 6 months following surgery is less than that experienced by OA patients; for THR, however, gains are similar in OA and RA patients. Total joint replacement (TJR) is commonly used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and yet little information is available to quantify their functional gain following surgery and how it differs from what the osteoarthritis (OA) population experiences. Therefore, we examined 6-month functional outcomes of TJR in a population-based observational cohort of RA and OA patients who underwent total hip (THR) or knee (TKR) replacement.Summary Statement
Introduction