Type of complications | Patients (n) | Type of surgery | Risk factor corticosteroids >1 year | Risk factor corticosteroid >5 mg prednisolone equivalent | Further risk factors as postulated | Immune-modulating drugs |
Wound disorder stitches in situ >14 days | 5 | 2 total hip replacement 1 ankle arthrodesis 2 forefoot surgery with osteosynthesis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 mono 3 combination |
6 | 2 bursectomy or synovectomy (elbow) 2 total joint replacement (hip/knee) 2 procedures in ankle and forefoot | 3 | 2 | 2 (diabetes and/or carcinoma) in patietns with elbow or ankle surgery | 3 mono 2 combination 1 none | |
Seroma without reoperation | 2 | 1 total elbow replacement with synovectomy 1 synovectomy hip | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 combination |
Revision due to seroma | 1 | 1 bursectomy knee | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 combination |
Deep infection with revision | 11 | 3 hand surgery 1 total knee replacement 1 total knee replacement 1 open synovectomy knee 4 forefoot surgery with osteosynthesis or total joint replacement 1 osteosynthesis forearm | 7 | 5 | 4 patients: 2 diabetes 2 vascular disease 1 carcinoma 1 history with infection in addressed area and infection alio loco | 5 mono 3 combination |
Palsy peroneal nerve | 1 | 1 total knee replacement | 1 mono |
Wound disorders/infections postoperatively were the most reported complications. The number of patients affected is given in each group. Median age at surgical treatment is 64.9 years (IQR 48.8–72.0; min 13.5; max 78.0). Median duration of rheumatic disease is 20 years (IQR 11.5–29.0; min 5.0; max 46.0). Wound disorders were observed more often in patients not receiving immune-modulating medication. The percentage of patients with infection was slightly higher in those not receiving immune modulating medications (0.9% vs 1%). One patient with a palsy of the peroneal nerve was reported, which has so be considered as a mechanical problem.