Total Knee Arthroplasty Considerations in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

The definitive treatment for advanced joint destruction in the late stages of rheumatoid arthritis can be successfully treated with total joint arthroplasty. Total knee arthroplasty has been shown to be a well-proven modality that can provide pain relief and restoration of mobility for those with debilitating knee arthritis. It is important for rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons alike to share an understanding of the special considerations that must be addressed in this unique population of patients to ensure success in the immediate perioperative and postoperative periods including specific modalities to maximize success.

1. Introduction

Over the past thirty years, major advances have been realized in the understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As an immune mediated process, all joints are affected, as synovitis leads to destruction of cartilage, which may ultimately result in bone loss and joint deformity. Joint contractures, fixed flexion and valgus deformities, and ligamentous laxity are especially evident in large joints, complicating treatments. With the advent of highly effective biologic therapies, fewer individuals with rheumatoid arthritis suffer this end-stage joint destruction [1]. Despite this success, approximately 20–25% of afflicted individuals develop advanced arthritis in their joints, with the knee being one of the most commonly affected joints contributing to patient pain and overall disability [2, 3]. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has proven to be a highly successful treatment for advanced rheumatoid arthritis. The orthopedic surgeon must pay special attention to the unique challenges presented by this population of patients during preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative planning in order to maximize successful outcome and quality of life for these patients.

2. Preoperative Considerations

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, which creates a unique set of challenges and considerations when treating patients afflicted with this disease. Care is often delivered by a variety of specialty physicians, including rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons. Preoperative communication is vital among these providers to maximize outcomes.

Surgeons and anesthesiologists alike must be aware of the increased risk to the cervical spine as 80% of patients have atlantoaxial instability [4]. The cervical spine also is at elevated risk of basilar invagination and subaxial instability, and thus preoperative radiographic investigation via flexion and extension images should be obtained, as intubation for surgery can often require hyperextension of the patient's neck, and should be avoided should instability be present [5]. When atlantoaxial instability exists, the patient should be referred to a spine surgeon for stabilization prior to any elective joint arthroplasty procedure.

It is well established that individuals with end-stage joint destruction, secondary to rheumatoid arthritis, tend to be an average of ten years younger compared to those with osteoarthritis (OA) [5]. Despite the decreasing overall rates of TKA for patients aged 40–59, the overall number of procedures has increased due to an expanding population [1]. This may create special demands on a device that has a limited life span. As populations continue to age and more individuals choose arthroplasty, the overall number of complications, including infection and aseptic loosening secondary to polyethylene wear, will continue to rise, making revision surgery ever more challenging in an already complicated population. Despite the challenges, midterm and long-term outcomes have demonstrated the success of TKA in improving quality of life. Ranawat et al. presented his series of midterm outcomes at 6.1 years of 93 cemented TKAs (17 OA, 73 RA). Good or excellent results were seen in 97.7% of the knees, and authors predicted a 96% survivorship at 10 years [6]. Gill et al. demonstrated good-to-excellent long-term outcomes at 9.9 years for patients undergoing cemented TKA younger than 55 years, comparing 29 knees with RA to 37 knees with OA [7]. Authors concluded that the “good” outcomes in 10% of their patients were due to the multiply affected joints in rheumatoid arthritis. This led Lee and Choi to suggest that these patients should not be evaluated by the functionality of each joint individually, but rather on their overall physiologic status instead of numeric age when considering surgical intervention [5].

The difficulty to control the polyarticular nature of the disease is further challenging physicians. Tanaka et al. demonstrated that the most commonly affected joints are the wrist, metacarpophalangeal joint, and proximal interphalangeal joints, although the majority of the pain and disability is secondary to shoulder, knee, and hip pathology [3]. When combined together in the same patient, the overall prognosis is exponentially worsened, and often hip and knee synovitis and arthritis are coexistent [8]. It is accepted that in those patients with ipsilaterally affected hip and knee joints with end-stage arthritis, total hip arthroplasty (THA) should be performed first, prior to TKA [5]. Controversy exists on whether upper or lower extremity pathology should be addressed first. Clement et al. argue that stresses placed on the upper extremity during therapy for TKA may further damage previously repaired joints [4]. Conversely, Chmell et al. believe that upper extremity impairment such as severe wrist pain due to RA may impair lower extremity rehabilitation, and thus wrist fusion should be considered prior to TKA. It is our practice to evaluate all afflicted joints prior to arthroplasty to determine the influence of other joints on rehabilitation and outcome.

3. Perioperative Medication Management

Rheumatoid arthritis is generally treated using a combination of medications including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). NSAIDs have also played a smaller role in symptomatic management, but these COX-1 and nonselective COX inhibitors can be associated with increased bleeding risk and should be withheld 1 week prior to surgery [5]. In our practice we prescribe COX-2 inhibitors (Celecoxib) postoperatively, as other studies have suggested that the slight increase in bleeding risk does not significantly increase the need for transfusion [9].

Glucocorticoids, on the other hand, can be used to treat flares of disease and as a maintenance medication, and its use in the perioperative period must be specifically tailored to the patient requirements [5]. It must be considered that patients who have received a prolonged treatment course of steroids may be prone to secondary adrenal insufficiency secondary to the chronic suppression of corticotrophin-releasing hormones from the hypothalamus. These patients require stress doses perioperatively of 50–100 mg of hydrocortisone or 10–15 mg of methylprednisone intravenously with an immediate taper to prevent an Addisonian crisis [10]. Additionally, chronic glucocorticoid use is associated with poor bone quality, compromise of the immune system, and impaired wound healing. Studies have demonstrated that rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing joint replacement who take chronic steroids have increased rates of joint infection, reaching 2.5–3 times that of the general population [10–12]. Thus, meticulous sterile technique, careful intraoperative skin handling, and tight closure are essential.

The most influential intervention to delay or prevent end-stage joint destruction has been DMARDs. Included in this category are methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine, azathioprine, hydroxychloroquine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab), and interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibitors (anakinra), as listed in Table 1. These biologic agents help control the various cytokines produced in this disease that help limit proliferation of fibroblasts, destruction of bone and cartilage, and progression of disease. Additionally, it is well established that TNF-α, a proinflammatory cytokine is produced by synovial cells and chondrocytes. This led Toki et al. to conclude that synovectomy and chondrocyte resection that occurs with TKA help to further improve patient outcome, complementing the action of the DMARDs systemically [13]. However, these medications are associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infections. Despite this, it is crucial to avoid reflexive continuation or cease of the use of DMARDs in the perioperative period, as this may be associated with an inflammatory flare in the smaller joints resulting in stiffness, added pain, and swelling, thus compromising the patient's ability to rehabilitate [10, 14, 15]. Here, communication between the orthopedic surgeon and rheumatologist is essential to achieve equilibrium between risk reduction for infection and disease suppression.

Table 1.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) dosing regimen in the perioperative period. The preoperative withholding period prior to surgery is specified as well as the waiting period postoperatively prior to reinstituting the medication.

Agent	Preoperative hold	Postoperative restart
Methotrexate∧ [15, 16]	No hold	No hold
Leflunomide [5]	1-2 days	1-2 weeks
Sulfasalazine [5]	1 day	3 days
Hydroxychloroquine [5]	No hold	No hold
Etanercept [10, 17]	1 wk	10–14 days
Infliximab [10, 17]	End dose cycle	10–14 days
Adalimumab [10, 17]	End dose cycle	10–14 days
Anakinra [10]	1-2 days	10 days

^∧In patients with normal renal function, methotrexate should be continued throughout the preoperative/postoperative period. If renal function is abnormal, the medication should be held 1 week prior to surgery and restarted 1-2 weeks postoperatively, after the immediate stresses of surgery have subsided.

Few studies have been published that demonstrate the safety of these medications perioperatively. Grennan et al. published their findings from a prospectively randomized clinical study of 388 cases of rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing joint arthroplasty (see Table 2) [15]. They found that at one-year follow-up, the group that continued to take methotrexate throughout the perioperative period had significantly better outcome, compared to those who temporarily held the medication or who used a different DMARD or corticosteroid. Sreekumar et al. reexamined the same population of patients at 10 years from surgery and found that continuing methotrexate in the long term was not associated with any additional cases of deep bone infection [16]. While the majority of patients should continue to take methotrexate perioperatively, in patients with renal dysfunction, it is prudent to hold this medication 1 week preoperatively and 1-2 weeks postoperatively. This is because the postoperative period may cause added stress to the kidneys worsening underlying renal insufficiency and propagating methotrexate toxicity [10]. Hayashi et al. investigated the TNF-α inhibiting DMARDs in their prospective cohort of 45 cases of RA in patients requiring large total joint arthroplasty, which included 33 TKA (see Table 2) [17]. At one-year follow-up, they were able to conclude that TNF-α inhibitors are safe and efficacious perioperatively when held for a short period of time.

Table 2.

Literature review of DMARD safety in the perioperative period.

	Medication	Patients	Infections	Flares
	Methotrexate
[15]	Continued	88	2 (2%)	0
	Held Medication∧	72	11 (15%)	6 (8%)
	Other DMARD/steroid	228	24 (11%)	9 (4)
	TNF-α Inhibitor*
[17]	Etanercept	33	0	—
	Infliximab	22	1 (5%)	—
	Adalimumab	3	0	—

^∧Methotrexate was held two weeks before until two weeks after surgery in this group. *Etanercept and adalimumab were held two weeks before until two weeks after surgery, while infliximab was held both four weeks prior to and after surgery.

As there exist limited prospective studies on this topic, we have delineated our preferred regimen (see Table 1) derived from the available literature.

4. Intraoperative and Technical Considerations

In addition to the preoperative and perioperative considerations of RA patients, there are specific technical challenges that these patients present during the TKA procedure which are not present in primary OA, as these patients are generally younger [18]. The musculoskeletal problems of RA patients include both inferior bone and soft tissue quality. The direct autoimmune nature of RA, as well as the common use of corticosteroids in these patients, results in poor subchondral bone substrate, which is needed for strong implant fixation. This resultant osteopenia is important to recognize, as this may decrease implant longevity and may also result in significant bone cysts. While small cysts can be filled during cementation, larger cysts require filling with either autologous graft from the bone cuts or allograft from morselized femoral head. Similarly, the soft tissue structures that stabilize the knee of RA patients may also be poor, often resulting in ligamentous laxity and joint deformity. This presents a special concern for the surgeon, because gross ligament instability may require increased constraint in the prosthesis, yet this increased constraint can transmit shear and rotational forces to the bone-cement interface resulting in debonding and premature failure. Fortunately, with the advanced medical management of RA, most patients with RA present with mild coronal plane deformity, though a fixed valgus deformity is sometimes present (see Figures 1 and 2). Fixed flexion contractures may also occur, thus further potentiating the overall complexity of the RA patient. Final outcomes of such a case are seen in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 1.

Posteroanterior radiographic view of bilateral knees demonstrating advanced arthritis. Note the valgus alignment to both legs. RA and OA radiographs differ in that RA radiographs will show periarticular erosions and osteopenia, whereas periarticular osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, and joint space narrowing are more common in OA.

Figure 2.

Lateral radiograph of the right knee. A small effusion is present as well.

Figure 3.

The same patient from Figures 1–3, now 22 months after right TKA was performed. The PA radiographs are seen with improved joint alignment in the right knee. The patient is doing well, walking without pain in the right knee, and is now being considered for a left TKA.

Figure 4.

Lateral view of the right knee 22 months after TKA.

An essential component of the reconstruction involves full joint synovectomy to lessen the inflammatory process, which may continue postoperatively if not fully addressed as an inflammatory synovitis [19]. When performing a synovectomy, it is important to preserve the fatty tissue between the synovium and the anterior femur to prevent scarring and adhesion formation [12].

The use of a cruciate-retaining (CR) versus a posterior-stabilized (PS) prosthesis is still controversial. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is a structure taking origin on the lateral aspect of the medial femoral condyle and inserting on the tibial plateau between the intercondylar notch and posterolateral tibial plateau on the posterior surface. This intraarticular ligament has multiple functions, but is mainly used in TKA for assisting with femoral rollback during knee flexion in order to achieve knee hyperflexion. Although excellent results have been reported with the CR prosthesis, there are some concerns that late instability due to PCL attenuation may occur with longer-term follow-up [20, 21]. Some have recommended that the PCL should be assessed intraoperatively and perform CR TKA in patients only when the PCL was present and functioning normally. Hanyu et al. assessed the PCL intraoperatively and performed CR TKA in patients only when the PCL was present and functioning normally. In their series, 10-year survivorship of the entire TKA cohort (both CR and PS) was 93%. No revisions were performed for instability in the CR group [22]. Miller et al. found a twenty-year implant survival rate of 93%, when PCL insufficiency was the endpoint [23].

5. Complications

RA patients are at twice the risk of developing infection, regardless of the site, than the non-RA population [24]. By the later stage of the degenerative process, many patients have been taking several immune suppressing medications including DMARDs, glucocorticoids, and TNF-α inhibitors for a lengthy period of time. Even though most of these medicines are stopped before surgery, the risk of infection remains quite high with an increased risk of opportunistic infections [25, 26]. Additionally, the majority will restart their treatment postoperatively. At 5 years after primary TKA, RA patients had 3 times more infections than OA patients (4.2% compared to 1.4%) [25]. Not all drugs seem to have the same effect on the infection site; for instance, patients taking TNF-α inhibitors are shown to be more prone to develop superficial infection of the surgical site, but not deep bone infections [27].

Surgical wound healing is also a major concern for this group of patients. Many have a history of corticosteroid use, which is known to blunt the inflammatory phase of wound healing and to alter the remodeling of the wound; however, the dose of corticosteroids received by RA patients is not high enough to generate these issues [28, 29]. Methotrexate has also been shown to reduce wound tensile strength, but similar to corticosteroid dosages, the amount usually given to an RA patient is relatively small and usually does not influence the healing [15]. Some studies have shown more wound dehiscence in the TNF-α inhibitor group [29]. This is another reason why we temporarily withhold these agents in the perioperative period and as detailed in Table 1. The British Society for Rheumatology has taken this one step further and declared, “Treatment may be restarted post-operatively if there is no evidence of infection and once wound healing is satisfactory.” [30]

One area where RA patients are at lower risk for complication is deep venous thromboembolism (DVT). It is well established that lower extremity orthopedic surgery is associated with a risk of DVT in up to 50% patients undergoing large joint replacement. Deadly pulmonary embolism occurs in one to six percent of patients not taking DVT prophylaxis medications. Previous studies have reported that the incidence of DVT in patients with RA undergoing hip or knee surgery is three to ten times less than that in patients with OA [31, 32]. In both studies, the decreased occurrence of DVT in patients with RA was attributable to a younger age of patients and the frequent use of NSAIDs with the resultant antiplatelet activity. Matta et al. in their study show that DVT risk in hospitalized RA patients is higher than the non-RA population; however, one exception occurs when patients undergo joint surgery, where RA patients had a decreased risk of developing DVT in comparison to OA patients [33].

In a recent meta-analysis, Ravi et al. looked at the complications following total joint replacement in RA patients [34]. They conclude that RA patients were at higher risk of infection following TKA, compared to OA patients; nonetheless, they found no difference regarding risk of revision, 90-day mortality, or venous thromboembolic events within 90 days of TKA.

6. Conclusions

Rheumatoid arthritis is predominantly found in small joints such as fingers and wrists; however it is well understood that the majority of the impairment of activities of daily living stems from the impairment to the large joints (knee, hip, and shoulder). Early diagnosis by primary care physicians and referral to rheumatologists for aggressive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis remain paramount. For these patients with end-stage degenerative changes in the knee, total knee arthroplasty has proven in long-term follow-up studies to be a highly successful solution for patients suffering from advanced joint destruction secondary to rheumatoid arthritis. Complications after TKA are more frequent compared to the general population and represent significant adverse events requiring revision surgery. Thus, as DMARDs continue to be widely used to decrease rates of disease progressing to end stages, a common understanding, by orthopedic surgeons and rheumatologists alike, of the proper balance and timing of medications to control the systemic illness, while minimizing adverse events perioperatively, is paramount.