Impact of lumbar arthrodesis on outcomes after elective total hip arthroplasty

BackgroundAcetabular component malpositioning has been associated with major complications including dislocation, edge-loading, stripe wear and squeaking. Anteversion is determined by pelvic orientation; flexion of the pelvis increases and extension decreases acetabular anteversion. The degree of pelvic movement is determined by lumbar spine sagittal balance and it is well established that lumbar arthrodesis procedures influence spinal and pelvic parameters including sagittal balance. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of prior lumbar arthrodesis and revision lumbar arthrodesis on complications after primary elective THA.MethodsA database review using the entire Medicare sample within the PearlDiver database was performed using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition codes. The search identified 14,439 patients who underwent primary THA after prior lumbar arthrodesis and 1,157 patients who underwent primary THA after prior revision lumbar arthrodesis. A search for patients who underwent primary THA without prior history of lumbar or revision lumbar fusion yielded 749,403 patients who served as a control. Incidence (IN), odds ratios (ORs) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 30-day, 90-day and overall complications were calculated.ResultsThe following complications reached statistical significance (p < 0.001) for THA after primary lumbar arthrodesis: bleeding (IN:9.7%, OR:2.33, CI:2.21–2.47), dislocation (IN:5.6%, OR:1.95, CI:1.81–2.09), infection (IN:3.6%, OR:1.99, CI:1.85–2.12), mechanical complication (IN:0.7%, OR:1.42, CI:1.16–1.73), mechanical loosening (IN:2.3%, OR:1.74, CI:1.56–1.94), other mechanical complication (IN:2.1%, OR:2.13, CI:1.90–2.39), DVT/PE (IN:8.4%, OR:1.50, CI:1.42–1.60), acute renal failure (IN:22%, OR:1.20, CI:1.15–1.25), periprosthetic fracture (IN:1.6%, OR:1.45, CI:1.27–1.65), and prosthetic-related complication (IN:30%, OR:1.85, CI:1.78–1.91). Higher complications rates were observed in patients who had revision lumbar arthrodesis: bleeding (IN:12.4%, OR:3.06, CI:2.57–3.65), dislocation (IN:9.7%, OR:3.54, CI:2.92–4.31), infection (IN:5%, OR:3.32, CI:2.71–4.06), mechanical complication (IN:6.9%, OR:14.94, CI:11.88–18.79), mechanical loosening (IN:3.2%, OR:2.41, CI:1.74–3.35), other mechanical complication (IN:3.5%, OR:3.56, CI:2.61–4.87), DVT/PE (IN:10.7%, OR:1.96, CI:1.63–2.36), acute renal failure (IN:25.5%, OR:1.46, CI:1.28–1.66), periprosthetic fracture (IN:2.7%, OR:2.47, CI:1.72–3.52), and prosthetic-related complication (IN:40%, OR:2.88, CI:2.56–3.24).ConclusionsLumbar arthrodesis and revision lumbar arthrodesis significantly negatively impact postoperative complication rates after THA. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III