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Post-Spinal Fusion Surgery Risk for RA Patients
Clin Exp Rheumatol; ePub 2016 Nov-Dec; Yoshihara, et al
During the last decade, the incidence of elective atlantoaxial spinal fusion (AASF) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients remained stable, according to a recent study. In-hospital morbidity and mortality rates of AASF in RA patients were higher than those of other major orthopaedic surgeries in RA patients, however. Therefore, respiratory management is particularly important after AASF in RA patients. Researchers derived clinical data from the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2000 and 2009. Patients who had a diagnosis of RA and underwent elective AASF, total hip arthroplasty (THA), and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were identified. They found:
- There were 1,460 RA patients aged ≥18 years who underwent elective AASF between 2000 and 2009.
- During the last decade, the incidence of elective AASF in RA patients remained stable.
- The overall in-hospital complication rate of AASF in RA patients was 10.9%, which was more than twice that of THA and TKA in RA patients (THA: 4.8%; TKA: 4.9%).
- Respiratory complication rate (5.3%) was the highest among the complications.
Yoshihara H, Yoneoka D, Margalit A. National trends and in-hospital outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing elective atlantoaxial spinal fusion surgery. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2016;34(6):1045-1050.