Patient characteristics affecting knowledge of the possibility of surgical reconstruction for rheumatoid hand and wrist deformities

Abstract

Objectives

We aimed to investigate patient characteristics affecting their knowledge of surgical reconstruction for rheumatoid hand and wrist deformities, and to investigate such characteristics affecting their hope of receiving hand surgery if patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) knew surgical reconstruction options.

Methods

We carried out a questionnaire survey for all patients with RA who came to our outpatient department of rheumatology. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine significant characteristics associated with the knowledge of surgical reconstruction and patients’ hope of receiving hand surgery.

Results

In total, 687 patients were evaluated in this study and 337 (49%) reported knowledge about surgical reconstruction. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients with good control of disease activity and with long-lasting hand and wrist deformities were significantly associated with having knowledge of surgical reconstruction. Among the 337 patients with knowledge, only 122 (36%) expressed a hope of receiving hand surgery. The statistical analysis showed that younger age and surgical history were significantly associated with the hope of receiving surgery.

Conclusion

Surgeons and rheumatologists should enlighten patients about the importance of hand surgery to achieve functional remission in this new era of treatment for patients with RA.

Keywords:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• hand surgery
• surgical reconstruction
• disease activity
• knowledge

Conflict of interest

None.

Acknowledgement

We give special thanks to Shinji Fukaya, M.D. (Department of Rheumatology, Tsukuba Gakuen Hospital) in regard to data collection and guidance of this study.