Complications and Readmissions After Total Hip Replacement in Octogenarians and Nonagenarians

As the US population ages, the need for total hip arthroplasty (THA) is predicted to increase by 174% by 2030. The purpose of our study was to examine the rate and risks of 30-day complications and unplanned readmission in patients over the age of 80 years old.

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database for the years 2008 to 2014 was queried for patients over the age of 80 undergoing THA. The risks of major complications, minor complications, bleeding occurrences, unplanned readmissions, and deaths over a 30-day period were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses.

A total of 7730 patients were included for analysis; 324 (4.2%) patients experienced a major complication, 1944 (25.1%) patients experienced a minor complication, 1776 (22.9%) patients had a bleeding occurrence requiring transfusion, and 376 (4.9%) patients experienced an unplanned readmission to the hospital within 30 days. A total of 33 (0.4%) patient deaths were recorded within 30 days postoperatively. Patients with congestive heart failure were at increased risk for developing a major complication, odds ratio (OR) 3.618 (1.052-12.437), and postoperative death, OR 11.920 (1.362-104.322). Patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists >2, OR: 1.351 (1.131-1.613), and an operative time greater than 120 minutes, OR: 1.346 (1.084-1.670), had increased risks of minor complications. Patients with a body mass index greater than 30 had reduced rates of minor complications, OR: 0.609 (0.486-0.763). Increased risk of unplanned readmission was seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, OR: 2.403 (1.324-4.359).

Elderly patients undergoing THA have high complication and readmission rates. Surgeons should convey these increased risk factors and rates of complications in elective THAs to their elderly patients and work with primary care physicians to mitigate these risks.