Use of Supplemental Home Oxygen is Associated With Early Postoperative Complications Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

BackgroundThe objective of this study is to evaluate preoperative supplemental home oxygen use as a potential risk factor for both medical and surgical complications following primary elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients who have respiratory disease (RD).MethodsPatients with a diagnosis of RD who underwent elective TKA from 2010 to 2020 were identified using a national database. The rates of postoperative medical and surgical complications, hospital readmissions, and emergency room visits were calculated for RD patients who used supplemental home oxygen and those who did not. Additionally, reimbursements and lengths of stay were determined. Both cohorts were then compared to matched cohorts who did not have RD using logistic regression analyses.ResultsA total of 41,418 patients who underwent TKA with RD on home oxygen and 138,635 patients who had RD without home oxygen use were compared with matched cohorts. The RD cohort with home oxygen use had a significantly higher incidence of periprosthetic joint infection (5.78% versus 2.69%, odds ratio [OR] 1.42, P < .0001), pneumonia (3.95% versus 0.69%, OR 4.44, P < .0001), venous thromboembolism (3.17% versus 2.10%, OR 1.12, P = .007), and periprosthetic fracture (0.82% versus 0.34%, OR 1.72, P < .0001) compared to the matched control cohort. Additionally, the RD with home oxygen cohort had a significantly higher incidence of periprosthetic joint infection (5.78% versus 3.77%, OR 1.15, P < .0001), pneumonia (3.95% versus 1.63%, OR 1.99, P < .0001), and several other medical complications compared to RD patients without home oxygen use.ConclusionPreoperative supplemental home oxygen use is associated with significantly increased risk of postoperative surgical and medical complications following elective TKA. This finding can help guide risk assessment and the informed consent process prior to surgery.