Risk factor analysis of perioperative complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing primary cervical spine surgery.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often causes cervical spine lesions as the disease condition progresses, which induce occipital neuralgia or cervical myelopathy requiring surgical interventions. Meanwhile, patients with RA are susceptible to infection or other complications in the perioperative period because they frequently have comorbidities and use immunosuppressive medications. However, the risk factors or characteristics of patients with RA who experience perioperative complications after cervical spine surgery remain unknown.

Does Preparation of the Subtalar Joint for Primary Union Affect Clinical Outcome in Patients Undergoing Intramedullary Nail for Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hindfoot and Ankle?

This study aimed to evaluate whether preparation of the subtalar joint affects the clinical outcomes after tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis using an intramedullary nail with fins for rheumatoid ankle/hindfoot deformity. Fifty-three joints in 51 patients who underwent tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis using an intramedullary nail with fins for rheumatoid arthritis at 2 institutions were included. Ten patients were male and 41 were female, with a mean age at surgery and follow-up period of 61.

Preoperative Japanese Society for the Surgery of the Foot Lesser toe score and erythrocyte sedimentation rate influence wound healing following rheumatoid forefoot surgery.

Objectives: Delayed wound healing is one of the most common complications following forefoot surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We aimed to identify the risk factors for delayed wound healing following rheumatoid forefoot surgery.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent primary rheumatoid forefoot surgery (86 feet; 53 patients) between April 2008 and February 2019 were retrospectively evaluated.