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What happens to patients awaiting arthritis surgery?

The length of orthopaedic waiting lists attracts much interest, but the needs of patients awaiting surgery gain little attention. We studied 97 patients awaiting lower-limb surgery (49 osteoarthritis, 41 rheumatoid arthritis, seven other diagnoses). Ninety had pain; 44 significant night pain. Psychological and social problems were common (44 and 45 cases respectively). Only 11 were employed full-time. Sixty-eight required help with daily activities, usually from relatives and neighbours. Forty-three patients walked less than 120 metres in 12 minutes. After review we recommended further aids in 32, medication changes in 27, and additional professional support in six cases. Clinical changes whilst on the waiting list caused alterations in the priority for surgery in 32 cases; the planned procedure was no longer appropriate in 12 of these. We suggest that patients awaiting surgery require clinical review to maintain quality of life; and that waiting lists require administrative review so that patients in need of surgery receive it as soon as possible.