Outcomes of Hip Arthroplasty in Patients with Preoperative Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia is a condition where platelet counts are below the normal range (< 150 × 10³/µL), resulting in a higher risk of bleeding and affecting the results of hip arthroplasty. We assessed the impact of preoperative platelet counts on the clinical results of patients who underwent hip arthroplasty.

Between April 2003 and March 2023, 437 patients (451 hips), who had preoperative thrombocytopenia of less than 150 × 10³/µL platelets, underwent hip arthroplasty. Preoperative platelet levels were categorized into severe thrombocytopenia (< 50 × 10³/µL) and non-severe thrombocytopenia (50-149 × 10³/µL). Total blood loss, operation time, requirement of transfusion, amount of transfusion, duration of surgical wound oozing, length of hospital stay, mortality rate at 1 year after surgery, and any complication were compared between the 2 groups.

No notable differences were observed in the surgery time or the total amount of blood loss between the groups. The requirement of transfusion and the amount of transfused blood were higher in the severe thrombocytopenia group. Prolonged oozing was found in around 18% in both groups, while periprosthetic joint infections occurred in 3 of the non-severe thrombocytopenia group. No significant difference was noted in the duration of hospital stay (25.6 ± 18.3 days vs. 19.4 ± 16.6 days, p = 0.067) and 1-year mortality (22.2% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.110).

Hip arthroplasties are safe for patients with low platelet counts and do not lead to prolonged hospital stays. On the other hand, patients with severe thrombocytopenia tend to need blood transfusions more frequently than those with less severe thrombocytopenia.