Surgical treatment of rheumatic diseases

Blomqvist P, Haglund U, Knutsson K, Lundborg G, Marke L-A, Nived O, Rydholm U, Sollerman C, Svensson B
Record ID 31998008649
Swedish
Authors' objectives:

The report focuses on the scientific basis for surgical treatment of rheumatic diseases: specifically, changes resulting from chronic joint inflammation, joint inflammation resulting from psoriasis, and joint inflammation in the spine. The report also assesses needs and costs related to these conditions, based on current indications.

Authors' recommendations: The scientific literature on the benefits of surgical treatment for rheumatic diseases shows that scientific methods in the field can improve substantially. Currently, the methods are evaluated largely on the basis of accepted clinical practice and uncontrolled studies. The methods which are considered to be still under development in the field of rheumatic surgery should be applied only when accompanied by follow up studies and assessments. Individuals active in this field should assume the additional responsibility for controlling the selection of prosthetic material and surgical methods. There appears to be an unmet need for surgical treatment of rheumatic disorders. However, this judgment is based on the present indications, which rest on a weak scientific foundation. In Sweden, the expertise is available to treat more patients, but the potential is limited mainly because of insufficient resources at the surgical units. All patients with advanced rheumatoid arthritis should be assessed by rheumatologists, and, if needed, by a surgeon specialized in rheumatic disorders to evaluate the possible need for surgery.
Authors' methods: Overview of systematic reviews, cost study
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.sbu.se/Published
Year Published: 1998
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Sweden
MeSH Terms
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Rheumatic Diseases
Contact
Organisation Name: Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services
Contact Address: P.O. Box 3657, SE-103 59 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel: +46 8 4123200, Fax: +46 8 4113260
Contact Name: registrator@sbu.se
Contact Email: registrator@sbu.se
Copyright: The Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.