Abstract
We performed total joint arthroplasties in 37 rheumatoid patients with inabilityto walk, mainly using Charnley total hip prostheses and Yoshino total knee prostheses. Out of them 36patients became able to walk postoperatively.
From the above results it became clear that operative indication required the followings:
1) Strong motivation to walk again,
2) Good relationship with the patient,
3) No severe complications,
4) Possibility to control the activity of rheumatoid arthritis.
Moreover, we wanted to emphasize that restoration of walking ability was also effected by active use of medical treatment-steroids and D-penicillamine.
