DECISION-MAKING IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - DETERMINING SURGICAL PRIORITIES

Many rheumatoid patients continue to have pain and progressive deformi ty despite a thorough attempt at medical management and require orthop edic intervention. The rheumatoid patient commonly presents to the ort hopedist with multiple orthopedic problems. It is the responsibility o f the orthopedist, working in conjunction with the rest of the patient 's care-givers to formulate a plan for sequentially addressing the sur gical needs of the rheumatoid patient. The considerations given to the formulation of this plan are discussed within this article.