Abstract
Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) and Hip Hemiarthroplasties (HA) are successful, cost-effective procedures that improve quality of life. Dislocation is a well recognised complication with a significant health and economic burden. We aim to establish the current management practices across the United Kingdom (UK) for Prosthetic Hip Dislocations (PHD). Our definition of a PHD includes; THA, HA and revision THA.
This national study builds on our regional pilot study and records one of the largest datasets of Prosthetic Hip Dislocation management within the UK.
A trainee-led collaborative; the North West Orthopaedic Research Collaborative (NWORC). Conducted a retrospective audit, registered as Quality Improvement (QI) projects, collected data from 38 hospital trusts across the UK.
Data was collected on patient-related factors, inpatient management, and outpatient follow up of each PHD episode between January and July 2019. Primary outcome measured definitive management, in the form of revision surgery or the consideration for this through a referral pathway.
A total of 673 (THA 504, Revision THA 141, HA 28) patients were included with a total of 740 dislocation episodes. Mean age was 75.6 years with female to male ratio 2:1. The majority of PHDs were a result of a low energy mechanism (98.7%) and presented over 6 months post index procedure (80.5%). Over half (53.8%) attended with a first or second time dislocation. Only 29.9% patients received onward revision referral; whereas 70.1% followed diverse management patterns, including local non-arthroplasty and primary arthroplasty surgeon follow-ups. Revision THAs had higher rates of referral for revision (p<0.001) compared to primary THA and HA dislocations.
A high number of PHDs present across the UK, with under a third receiving definitive management plans. This variation increases the economical burden to the National Health Service, highlighting the need for national guidance to manage these complex patients.
