Declining needs for total joint replacements for rheumatoid arthritis
1 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences & Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, 4301 W. Markham, #509, Little Rock, AR 72211, USA
2 Arkisto/Tutkijat, Jyväskylä Central Hospital, 40620 Jyväskylä, Finland
Arthritis Research & Therapy 2011, 13:130 doi:10.1186/ar3478
See related research by Hekmat et al., http://arthritis-research.com/content/13/2/R67
Published: 19 October 2011Abstract
This millennium brings new views to rheumatology. Total joint replacement surgery is needed less often as active treatment strategies combined with availability of new medications has led to more effective rheumatoid arthritis control. This was beautifully shown in a recent issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy by a Swedish study that uses data from national registers and compares incidence rates for total hip and knee arthroplasties before and after the establishment of biologic agents use for rheumatoid arthritis
