Influence of Janus kinase inhibitors on early postoperative complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing orthopaedic surgeries.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery to examine the influence of the perioperative use of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors on early postoperative complications. Thirty-two patients with RA under disease control with JAK inhibitors who underwent 49 orthopaedic procedures were included in the study. Patient records after surgery were investigated for surgical site infection (SSI), delayed wound healing (DWH), flare-up of the disease, pre-and postoperative absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs), venous thromboembolism and other postoperative complications. JAK inhibitors were continued during the perioperative period in 31 procedures. In the remaining 18 procedures, JAK inhibitors were discontinued perioperatively with a mean discontinuation period of 2.4 days. No instances of SSI were identified in any patient during at least 90 days' follow-up, while DWH was seen in one patient. Disease flare-up was noted in two patients after 3 and 9 days of discontinuation of JAK inhibitors, respectively. The ALCs significantly decreased on postoperative Day 1 (P < 0.0001) and there was a significant correlation between pre- and post-one day ALCs (r = 0.75, P < 0.0001). JAK inhibitors seem to be safe during the perioperative period of orthopaedic surgery.

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© Japan College of Rheumatology 2023. Published by Oxford University Press.