Figgie, Mark P.

Objective To develop updated guidelines for the perioperative management of disease‐modifying medications for patients with rheumatic diseases, specifically those with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) or elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods We convened a panel of rheumatologists, orthopedic surgeons, and infectious disease specialists, updated the systematic literature review, and included currently available medications for the clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes (PICO) questions. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology to rate the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations using a group consensus process. Results This guideline updates the 2017 recommendations for perioperative use of disease‐modifying antirheumatic therapy, including traditional disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs, biologic agents, targeted synthetic small‐molecule drugs, and glucocorticoids used for adults with rheumatic diseases, specifically for the treatment of patients with IA, including rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis, those with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or those with SLE who are undergoing elective THA or TKA. It updates recommendations regarding when to continue, when to withhold, and when to restart these medications and the optimal perioperative dosing of glucocorticoids. Conclusion This updated guideline includes recently introduced immunosuppressive medications to help decision‐making by clinicians and patients regarding perioperative disease‐modifying medication management for patients with IA and SLE at the time of elective THA or TKA.

ObjectiveTo develop updated guidelines for the perioperative management of disease‐modifying medications for patients with rheumatic diseases, specifically those with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) or elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA).MethodsWe convened a panel of rheumatologists, orthopedic surgeons, and infectious disease specialists, updated the systematic literature review, and included currently available medications for the clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes (PICO) questions. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology to rate the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations using a group consensus process.ResultsThis guideline updates the 2017 recommendations for perioperative use of disease‐modifying antirheumatic therapy, including traditional disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs, biologic agents, targeted synthetic small‐molecule drugs, and glucocorticoids used for adults with rheumatic diseases, specifically for the treatment of patients with IA, including rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis, those with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or those with SLE who are undergoing elective THA or TKA. It updates recommendations regarding when to continue, when to withhold, and when to restart these medications and the optimal perioperative dosing of glucocorticoids.ConclusionThis updated guideline includes recently introduced immunosuppressive medications to help decision‐making by clinicians and patients regarding perioperative disease‐modifying medication management for patients with IA and SLE at the time of elective THA or TKA.

Background: Tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces bleeding and the need for transfusion after total knee arthroplasty. Most literature has focused on intravenous (IV) administration of TXA, with less data available on the efficacy of topically administered TXA. This multicenter randomized clinical trial specifically assessed the efficacy of topical TXA compared with IV TXA as measured by calculated blood loss, drain output, and transfusion rates. Complications, including venous thromboembolism (VTE), were reported. Methods: A total of 640 patients who underwent primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis at 2 large academic centers were randomized to receive 1 g of IV TXA prior to tourniquet inflation and 1 g at closure, or 3 g of TXA diluted in 45 mL of normal saline solution (total volume of 75 mL) and topically applied after cementation. Age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, and preoperative hemoglobin level were similar between the groups. Univariate, multiple linear regression, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Patients who received topical TXA had significantly greater calculated blood loss compared with those who received IV TXA (mean of 324 compared with 271 mL; p = 0.005). Drain output was significantly higher in the topical TXA group compared with the IV TXA group (mean of 560 compared with 456 mL; p < 0.0001). The rate of transfusion was low in the topical and IV groups, with no significant difference on univariate analysis (1.6% compared with 0.6%, respectively; p = 0.45); however, on multiple logistic regression analysis, patients who received topical TXA were 2.2-fold more likely to receive a transfusion (p < 0.0001). The topical and IV TXA groups did not differ significantly with respect to the rate of thrombotic events (0.6% compared with 1.6%, respectively; p = 0.45). Conclusions: In this large, randomized clinical trial involving patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, both IV and topical TXA were associated with a low rate of transfusion. While IV TXA was associated with less calculated blood loss, lower drain output, and fewer transfusions, the small differences between the groups may not be clinically important. Given the low prevalence of thrombotic complications, the relative safety of one formulation of TXA over the other cannot be definitely established. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.