Patient satisfaction with total joint replacement surgery for rheumatoid arthritis: a questionnaire survey for the 2020 update of the Japan college of rheumatology clinical practice guidelines

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate satisfaction with total joint replacement (TJR) surgery among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We mailed questionnaires to randomly selected members of the Japan Rheumatism Friendship Association, stratified by age and prefecture, throughout Japan. The questionnaire collected demographic and clinical characteristics as well as patients’ satisfaction with TJR and their current therapy. Results: Of the 1156 patients who returned the questionnaire, 339 (29.3%) responded that they had had TJR of any type. The mean age was 66.6 years, and 94.4% were women. The mean time period from the hip and knee TJR was 14–15 years. Over half of the patients who had had TJR were satisfied with the results, especially those who had had hip (89.6%) and knee TJR (87.3%), who reported a high level of satisfaction. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that, in patients with knee TJR, satisfaction with current therapy was significantly related to whether they were satisfied with the results of the surgery. Conclusion: Most patients with RA who had undergone TJR were satisfied with the results even after a long period of time, and their level of satisfaction was associated with their satisfaction with current therapy.