Traumatic hip fracture and primary elective total hip patients are not the same: A comparison of comorbidity burden, hospital course, postoperative complications and cost of care analysis

• Published in: Journal of orthopaedic trauma
• Main Authors: Lowe, Jason, Mitchell, Sean M, Agarwal, Sumit, Jones, Clifford B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.2020
• ISSN: 1531-2291
• DOI: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000001800

To compare patient admission comorbidity profiles, length of stay, readmission rate, postoperative complications, mortality rate and cost of care between acute geriatric hip fractures (HF) and elective total hip arthroplasties (THA) METHODS:: Retrospective Cohort SETTING:: Multi-center healthcare system PATIENTS:: 18,042 geriatric hip fractures treated with operative fixation or arthroplasty and 8,761 elective total hip patients were reviewed MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:: Charlson Comorbidty Index, length of stay, ICU admission, readmission rate, postoperative complications, mortality rates and cost of care RESULTS:: Medical comorbidities: chronic pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure, liver cirrhosis, and cerebrovascular disease were higher in HF patients as was mean Charlson Comorbidity Index (p<0.001). Albumin was lower and HgbA1c higher in HF patients (p<0.001). Average length of stay was 5.0 vs. 2.6 days (p<0.001) with 8.5% of HF patients being managed in the ICU versus 1.8% of THA patients. Readmission rates for HF and THA patients were 21.4% and 6.2%, respectively (p<0.001). Minor and major complications were higher in the HF cohort (p<0.001), as were 30-day (1.97% vs. 0.17%) and 1-year mortality rates (3.49% vs. 0.40%) (p<0.001). Mean hospital cost of care was nearly fifteen thousand US dollars more expensive in HF patients when compared to the elective THA cohort (p<0.001). HF patients have increased comorbidity burdens, lengths of stay, ICU admissions, readmission rates, complications, mortality and costs of care than elective total hip arthroplasty. In the era of pay for quality performance, health systems must reconcile the difference between these two patient cohorts. 3.