Study: Hip Replacement Readmission Rates Predictable by Risk Factors

Researchers who are working on a scale to predict which hip replacement patients may be most likely to require readmission due to problems, found that hip complications frequently occur among older patients and those with other health problems. 

The study was published earlier this month in the medical journal JAMA Surgery, looking at a way to determine which patients were more likely to be readmitted after hip replacement surgery. They found that nearly 6% of patients who received a hip implant were readmitted within 30 days due to problems.

The study looked at data on 268,518 patients from New York and California from 2006 through 2011, finding that patients over the age of 74, African Americans, patients undergoing revision surgery to replace a failed implant and patients suffering from congestive heart failure, liver disease, pulmonary disease, kidney failure, diabetes and other health problems were more likely to require revision surgery.

Researchers found that using a scale to calculate these factors predicted high-risk patients a majority of the time.

Complications from hip implants often include mechanical failures, poisoning from metallic debris from metal-on-metal implants, and surgical site infections.

Hospital readmission following hip replacement surgery is commonly linked to reports of ongoing problems and complaints for individuals who receive the implant. This can include lingering pain, infections and even the need for revision surgery.

While not addressed in this study, there has been increasing concern within the medical community in recent months over risks posed by some tools or devices commonly used during hip surgery, known as a Bair Hugger warming blanket, which has been linked to reports of severe infections that resulted in the need for additional procedures.

According to allegations raised in hip infection lawsuits and knee infection lawsuits filed against the manufacturer, the Bair Hugger warming system may cause bacteria and other contaminants to enter the sterile surgical field, resulting in severe and debilitating infections following surgery.