title: Overall long-term impact of total hip and knee joint replacement surgery on patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: All patients with OA or RA entering an orthopaedic waiting list for total hip or knee replacement surgery over a period of 2.5 yr were prospectively assessed for overall pain (Visual Analogue Scale) and disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire) prior to and following their operation at annual intervals for up to 5 yr. A total of 293 patients had 335 operations (OA, hip 164; OA, knee 76; RA, hip 41; RA, knee 54). A few patients (14) showed a deterioration in pain and function 1 yr after surgery, but the remainder showed improvements which took 1 yr or more to reach maximum and were maintained for at least 3 yr. Although greater for OA hip patients, improvements occurred and were maintained in all groups, in spite of the polyarticular nature of RA.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, Bristol Royal Infirmary.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kirwan
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Currey
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Snow
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010146:Pain; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome