One of the most important things for the physician to recognize in referring a patient to the orthopedic surgeon for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is the goal of surgical correction. The primary goal in surgical treatment of diseased joints in the lower extremity is relief of pain. Some pain-free patients have such severe deformities that a surgical procedure may be undertaken in order to improve and restore function, accepting certain calculated risks; however, to improve function surgically in a pain-free joint requires complete and full understanding on the part of the patient as well as the physician
