Does Timing of Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Prior to or After Lumbar Spine Fusion Have an Effect on Dislocation and Revision Rates?

Background: Patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) following lumbar spine fusion have an increased incidence of dislocation compared to those without prior lumbar fusion. The purpose of this study is to determine if timing of THA prior to or after lumbar fusion would have an effect on dislocation and revision incidence in patients with both hip and lumbar spine pathology.
Methods: One hundred percent Medicare inpatient claims data from 2005 to 2015 were used to compare dislocation and revision risks in patients with primary THA with pre-existing lumbar spine fusion vs THA with subsequent lumbar spine fusion within 1, 2, and 5 years after the index THA. A total of 42,300 patients met inclusion criteria, 28,668 patients of which underwent THA with pre-existing lumbar spinal fusion (LSF) and 13,632 patients who had prior THA and subsequent LSF. Patients who had THA first followed by LSF were further stratified based on the interval between index THA and subsequent LSF (1, 2, and 5 years), making 4 total groups for comparison. Multivariate cox regression analysis was performed adjusting for age, socioeconomic status, race, census region, gender, Charlson score, pre-existing conditions, discharge status, length of stay, and hospital characteristics.
Results: Patients with prior LSF undergoing THA had a 106% increased risk of dislocation compared to those with LSF done 5 years after THA (P < .001). Risk of revision THA was greater in the pre-existing LSF group by 43%, 41%, and 49% at 1, 2, and 5 years post THA compared to the groups with THA done first with subsequent LSF. Dislocation was the most common etiology for revision THA in all groups, but significantly higher in the prior LSF group (26.6%).
Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate that sequence of surgical intervention for concomitant lumbar and hip pathology requiring LSF and THA respectively significantly impacts the fate of the THA performed. Patients with prior LSF undergoing THA are at significantly higher risk of dislocation and subsequent revision compared to those with THA first followed by delayed LSF.
Level of Evidence: 3.
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