Outcomes following Total Hip Arthroplasty for Femoral Head Osteonecrosis in Patients with History of Solid Organ Transplant

Background: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a potentially debilitating condition, often requiring total hip arthroplasty (THA). Patients with solid organ transplant (SOT) are at increased risk of postoperative complications after THA for osteoarthritis. The objective of the present study is to evaluate SOT as a potential risk factor for complication after THA for ONFH. Methods: This is a retrospective study that identified patients with SOT who underwent THA for ONFH from 2005 to 2014 in a national insurance database and compared them to 5:1 matched controls without transplant. Subgroup analyses of patients with renal transplant (RT) and those with non-RT were also analyzed. A logistic regression analysis was used to compare rates of mortality, hospital readmission, emergency room (ER) visits, infection, revision, and dislocation while controlling for confounders. Differences in hospital charges, reimbursement, and length of stay (LOS) were also compared. Results: 996 patients with SOT who underwent THA were identified and compared to 4,980 controls. SOT patients experienced no increased risk of early postoperative complications compared to controls. Solid organ transplant was associated with higher resource utilization and LOS. Renal transplant patients were found to have significantly higher risk of hospital readmission at 30 days (odds ratio [OR] 1.77; p = 0.001) and 90 days (OR 1.62; p < 0.001) and hospital LOS (p < 0.001), but had lower risk of infection (OR 0.65; p = 0.030). Non-RT patients had higher rate of ER visits at 30 days (OR 2.26; p = 0.004) but lower rates of all-cause revision (OR 0.22; p = 0.043). Conclusions: Patients with history of SOT undergoing THA for ONFH utilize more hospital resources with longer LOS and greater risk of readmission but are not necessarily at an increased risk of early postoperative complications.

Automated summary

Patients with a history of solid organ transplant undergoing total hip arthroplasty for osteonecrosis of the femoral head are not necessarily at an increased risk of early postoperative complications, but they utilize more hospital resources, have longer length of stay, and have a higher risk of hospital readmission.