Complications After Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty in the Medicare Population

Abstract

Background The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and types of complications after revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) within the first year, and determine the relative risk factors for these complications and of re-revision. Methods The sample size of 5% Medicare claims data from 1998-2011 was studied. Primary THA patients who underwent subsequent revision were identified using ICD-9-CM codes. Outcomes and complications after revision THA were assessed. Multivariate Cox regression was used to evaluate the effect of patient demographic characteristics on the adjusted complication risk for revision THA patients. Results Of the 64,260 primary THA patients identified between 1998 and 2011, 3555 patients (5.71%) underwent revision THA. Etiology of primary hip failure included mechanical complications such as loosening and wear (40.7%), dislocation (14.0%), and infection (11.3%). Complications after revision THA included infection and redo revision, 17.3% and 15.8% followed by venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) at 11.1%, dislocation at 5.43%, PE at 3.24%, and death at 2.11%. The rate of “new” infections after an aseptic revision was 8.13%. Patients in the 85+-year-old age group had a 100% greater adjusted risk of VTE (P