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Research Article

Risk factors for revision due to infection after primary total hip arthroplasty

A population-based study of 80,756 primary procedures in the Danish Hip Arthroplasty Registry

, , , &
Pages 542-547 | Received 17 Nov 2009, Accepted 24 May 2010, Published online: 22 Sep 2010
 

Abstract

Background and purpose There has been a limited amount of research on risk factors for revision due to infection following total hip arthroplasty (THA), probably due to low absolute numbers of revisions. We therefore studied patient- and surgery-related risk factors for revision due to infection after primary THA in a population-based setting.

Materials and methods Using the Danish Hip Arthroplasty Registry, we identified 80,756 primary THAs performed in Denmark between Jan 1, 1995 and Dec 31, 2008. We used Cox regression analysis to compute crude and adjusted relative risk (RR) of revision due to infection. Revision was defined as extraction or exchange of any component due to infection. The median follow-up time was 5 (0–14) years.

Results 597 primary THAs (0.7%) were revised due to infection. Males, patients with any co-morbidity, patients operated due to non-traumatic avascular femoral head necrosis, and patients with long duration of surgery had an increased RR of revision due to infection within the total follow-up time. A tendency of increased RR of revision was found for patients who had received cemented THA without antibiotic and hybrid THA relative to patients with cementless implants. Hip diagnosis and fixation technique were not associated with risk of revision due to infection within 1 year of surgery (short-term risk).

Interpretation We identified several categories of THA patients who had a higher risk of revision due to infection. Further research is required to explain the mechanism underlying this increased risk. More attention should be paid by clinicians to infection prevention strategies in patients with THA, particularly those with increased risk.

ABP and SO had the original idea. ABP, SO, JES, AR, and SPJ contributed to conception and design of the study, interpretation of data, critical revision of the manuscript, and final approval of the version to be published. AR contributed to acquisition and analysis of data. ABP and SO take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole.