Bristol researchers help tackle crippling condition of rheumatoid arthritis
RESEARCHERS in Bristol are aiming to improve the problems suffered by patients affected by the crippling condition of rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease in which the body's immune system attacks the joints, causing inflammation, pain, stiffness and intense fatigue.
A team led by orthopaedic registrar Patricia Allen at the Avon Orthopaedic Centre in Southmead Hospital hope to reduce the pain in patients' feet by discovering which type of foot surgery produces the best result.
The team's work is being highlighted by leading medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign – which is funding the £30,000 project over three years – during its Research Week (June 5-12), aimed at raising awareness of rheumatoid arthritis.
The charity is spearheading a major research initiative into rheumatoid arthritis by currently pumping more than £6m into research in centres throughout the UK. The outlook for patients is improving dramatically as better and more effective drug treatments are constantly being developed.
"Patients with RA often suffer from damaged joints in the base of the toes, leading to deformity, disability and pain, akin to walking on pebbles," explained Ms Allen. "Surgery can be performed, but the exact quality of the results of different operations is open to debate. This form of confusion leads to some pessimism as to the benefits of surgery on the foot."
The Bristol team have set up a randomised, controlled trial of several patients with RA who have undergone two different types of corrective foot surgery. They will then compare the outcome, assessing pain relief and correction of deformity.
"The aim is to demonstrate which operation produces the most consistent result after surgery in the short term" added Ms Allen. "Longer term studies will then need to be carried out to establish if the benefit to the patient is sustained."
