Does total hip arthroplasty have a higher risk of failure in patients who undergo lumbar spinal fusion?

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients undergoing or having a prior lumbar spine fusion (LSF) have an increased risk of mechanical complications. The aim of this registry-based, retrospective comparative cohort study is to assess the longer term survival of THA in patients who have undergone a LSF during a 17-year period (2000 to 2017).

A registry-based population study was conducted on 679 patients who underwent both THA and LSF surgeries. Patients were identified from the regional arthroplasty data base and cross linked to patients with LSF from the regional hospital discharge database between 2000 and 2017. Demographic data, diagnosis leading to primary THA, primary implant survival, perioperative complications, number and causes of failure, and patients requiring revision arthroplasty were collated and compared. For comparison, data from 67,919 primary THAs performed during the same time time period were also retrieved and analyzed.

Patients undergoing THA and LSF showed homogeneous demographic data compared to those undergoing THA alone, but a significantly lower eight-year THA implant survival (96.7 vs 96.0, p = 0.024) was observed. Moreover, THA plus LSF patients showed increased incidence of mechanical complications in the first two years after THA surgery compared to THA alone patients.

This registry-based population study shows that approximately 679 (1%) THA patients were subjected to LSF. Patients undergoing THA and LSF have an increased risk of mechanical complications with their THA and a slightly increased risk of revision arthroplasty. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(3):486-491.