Does systemic lupus erythematosus increase the risk of complications from total hip arthroplasty?

How does systemic lupus erythematosus impact the peri-operative complication rates in primary hip arthroplasty? A national inpatient sample-based study

INTRODUCTION

With prolonged life expectancy, the number of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) has substantially increased over the past years. The post-operative outcome and complications in SLE are less clearly understood than other inflammatory diseases, due to limited availability of evidence within the literature.

METHODS

Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, patients who underwent THA between 2016 and 2019 were identified (ICD-10 CMP code). Patients were then classified into one of the two groups, namely those with SLE (ICD-10-CM; code710.0) or those without SLE (NSLE). Data regarding demographic details, co-morbidities, details regarding hospital stay, expenditure incurred, and complications encountered were analyzed, and compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Overall, among 367,894 patients undergoing THA, 1684 (0.5%) had SLE. Mean age of SLE (57.3 ± 14.5 years) patients undergoing THA was significantly lower than NSLE (65.9 ± 11.4 years) population (p = 0.001). There was a greater proportion of female patients in SLE group [89.6% (SLE) vs 55.8% (NSLE); p = 0.001]. SLE patients had a greater incidence of emergent hospital admissions (p = 0.04), longer hospital stay (p = 0.001), and higher hospital-related expenditure (p = 0.001). Among the peri-operative complications, SLE patients had significantly greater risk of developing post-operative anemia (p = 0.001), need for blood transfusion (p = 0.001), peri-prosthetic mechanical complications (p = 0.04), and prosthetic dislocations (p = 0.001). There was also a greater incidence of peri-prosthetic infections in the SLE group (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The presence of SLE significantly lengthens hospital stay and augments healthcare-related costs in patients undergoing THA. The three main complications which may significantly affect the post-operative course of these patients include higher rates of post-operative anemia, peri-prosthetic infections, and early prosthetic dislocations.

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing complications following total hip arthroplasty for systemic lupus erythematosus versus for non-systemic lupus erythematosus

Background

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is one of the most severe complications in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is an effective treatment for femoral head necrosis. However, there is no consensus on the specific effect of THA on SLE patients. The objective of the present study was to review the current evidence regarding rates of THA complications and postoperative function in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Methods

Two independent reviewers searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE from January 1, 2000, to December 29, 2021. The primary outcomes were postoperative complications, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), hematoma, wound infection, dislocation, periprosthetic fracture, revision, mortality.

Results

A total of 179 articles yielded 28 studies eligible for inclusion with 10 studies used for meta-analysis. This study found a statistically significant difference in DVT, dislocation, wound infection, periprosthetic fracture, and revision.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis shows that SLE patients with THA are at an increased risk of DVT, wound infection, dislocation, periprosthetic fracture, revision, periprosthetic joint infection, following THA in comparison with non-SLE patients with THA. There was no adequate evidence to support the notion that the risk of seroma or hematoma following THA is increased in SLE. Also, there was no significant difference in HHS scores between SLE patients and non-SLE patients after THA.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-022-03075-8.