Clinical outcome
Statistically significant improvements in HSS and VAS pain score were seen in all treatment groups postoperatively at time of last follow-up compared to preoperative measurements (P<0.01).
Follow-up assessment preformed at an average of 11.4 years postoperatively, showed patients receiving co-therapy in group C to have had superior improvement in both HSS score and VAS pain compared to group B patients given DMARDs alone (P= 0.01 and P = 0.04 respectively) (Table 3). HSS and VAS were statistically similar at follow-up between groups A and B. No differences were noted between any groups in joint ROM shortly after surgery prior to discharge. However long-term evaluation at latest follow-up demonstrated group C patients to have made the significantly greater postoperative improvement in ROM compared to both groups A and B (P=0.001 and P=0.002 respectively), while no follow-up ROM differences were observed between groups A and B (P=1.00) (Table 3).