Groin pain aggravated in short term contracted by COVID-19 in THA patients: a case-crossover study

• Published in: Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 374 - 8
• Main Authors: Chen, Hongjie, Lai, Peng, Lu, Haiming, Zhu, Jun, Sang, Weilin, Wang, Cong, Zhong, Yiming, Zhu, Libo, Ma, Jinzhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 24.06.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip - adverse effects; Case-crossover study; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Cross-Over Studies; Female; Groin; Groin pain; Health aspects; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Middle Aged; Pain, Postoperative - epidemiology; Pain, Postoperative - etiology; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Total hip arthroplasty (THA); COVID-19; Case-crossover study; Groin pain; Total hip arthroplasty (THA)
• ISSN: 1749-799X; 1749-799X
• DOI: 10.1186/s13018-024-04862-1

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spreads worldwide and causes more suffering. The relation about the aggravation of inguinal pain and COVID-19 was unclear in patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aimed to evaluate the risk of groin pain aggravation in short-term THA patients after COVID-19. Between 2020 and 2022, 129 patients with THA who were affected COVID-19 were enrolled. A short-standardized questionnaire was administered during follow-up to inquire about the aggravation of groin ache before and after SARS-COV-2 affection. Furthermore, we evaluated the potential association between the presence of increased pain and various factors, including age, gender, body mass index, diagnosis, and length of hospital stay. The case-crossover study revealed an increased risk of inguinal soreness aggravation when comparing 8 weeks after COVID-19 with 12 weeks before COVID-19 (Relative risk [RR], 9.5; 95% Confidence intervals [CI], 2.259-39.954). For COVID-19 positive patients, multivariate analysis showed length of stay was an independent factor significantly associated with increased risk of aggravation of groin pain (Odds ratio [OR], 1.26; 95%CI, 1.03-1.55, p = 0.027). This study confirms the association between COVID-19 and the exacerbation of soreness in the groin region in THA patients and extended length of stay is a possible contributing factor. This study expands the current literature by investigating the risk of aggravation of inguinal pain in patients with THA after COVID-19, providing valuable insights into postoperative outcomes in this specific population. Trial registration This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Shanghai general hospital (No.2023-264).