ACHIEVING THE BEST – HOW A PERSON WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS CAN GET THE BEST OUTCOMES FROM SURGERY

Background: People with rheumatoid arthritis often have complex needs – these can be all the more obvious when orthopaedic surgery is part of the treatment.Objectives: To demonstrate how people living with rheumatoid arthritis value a multi-disciplinary team working approach to surgical interventions – allowing for a better outcome and a better experience for the patient.Methods: Delivering first hand experience of orthopaedic surgical interventions as well as representing the views of other people living with rheumatoid arthritis illustrating approaches which have made for positive experiences – and explaining how bad experiences could have been avoided.Results: The person with arthritis has an easier and more successful path to recovery and function.Conclusions: Effective team working helps establish a clear pathway for all involved during all stages of preparation, surgery, recovery and rehabilitation.Citation: Ann Rheum Dis, volume 66, supplement II, year 2007, page 33Session: Going for gold: the partnership approach to maximising benefits for people with rheumatic disease experiencing surgery