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Rheumatoid arthritis - Management
When is a referral to a surgeon indicated in rheumatoid arthritis?
- People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who do not respond to optimal non-surgical treatment should be referred for a surgical opinion, if there are any of the following:
- Persistent pain due to joint damage or other identifiable soft tissue cause.
- Worsening joint function.
- Progressive deformity.
- Persistent localized synovitis.
- People with RA should receive a surgical opinion before damage or deformity becomes irreversible, if there are any of the following:
- Imminent or actual tendon rupture.
- Nerve compression (for example carpal tunnel syndrome).
- A stress fracture.
- Do not let concerns about the long-term durability of prosthetic joints influence decisions to refer younger people with RA for joint replacements.
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