With an almost 3.5% manifestation rate in Germany, rheumatoid arthritis is a relatively frequent disease. Due to the involvement of diverse locations on the skeleton and often multiple comorbidities, treatment of these patients in cases of acute trauma potentially represents a substantial risk. The anti-inflammatory drug treatment harbors dangers, such as delayed wound healing and infections in the perioperative management of these patients. In an emergency a modification of the basic anti-inflammatory medication is hardly possible, so that the postoperative phase after trauma surgery is of special importance. If necessary, orthopedic or internist rheumatologists should be consulted for additional support. Absolute and urgent surgical interventions do not constitute a contraindication with respect to the antirheumatic medication but should be considered in the assessment of the perioperative risk profile. A close cooperation with anesthesia, the meticulous control of intraoperative positioning and postoperative management are of particular importance.
Keywords: Anesthesia; Biologicals; Medication; Rheumatoid arthritis; Wound healing.