Hip replacement surgery offers freedom from pain and improved mobility in most patients. Inflammation in the knee is common in later stages of rheumatoid arthritis, and can lead to pain, swelling, malalignment, and gait problems. Many of these problems can be addressed with good results, and rheumatic surgery has few complications. Cortisone injections are shown to provide the same effects as surgical removal of inflamed tendons, ie, both methods reduce pain and increase mobility. When the ankle is attacked by rheumatoid arthritis, it can be treated surgically by arthrodesis or joint implantation.
Arthrodesis is shown to relieve pain, but carries a risk for complications.
In some cases, this type of surgery may preferred over prosthetic implantations which can loosen or become infected. Joints of the foot are often affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Arthrodesis of the middle foot has been shown to both eliminate pain and improve the gait. Different types of rheumatic surgery procedures can be used to treat the forefoot. Long-term effects of rheumatic surgery in the foot are highly uncertain.