Long-Term Mortality Associated with Periprosthetic Infection in Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Registry Study of 4,651 Revisions for Infection.

BACKGROUND

While the morbidity associated with revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) or periprosthetic infection (PJI) has been well characterized, less is known about the risk of mortality. With this study, we aimed to determine the long-term mortality associated with revision THA for PJI and associated risk factors.

METHODS

Data from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR) were used to study mortality associated with THA procedures for osteoarthritis and subsequent revisions from September 1999 through December 2022. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survivorship and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) based on Australian period life tables were used to summarize the overall survival following the primary and first revision THA. Risk factors associated with mortality were identified using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for age and gender.

RESULTS

There were 548,061 primary THA procedures for osteoarthritis; 4,651 first revision procedures for infection and 15,891 first revisions for reasons other than infection and fracture were recorded. At 5, 10, and 15 years, the cumulative mortality rate for revision for PJI was 14.5%, 34.7%, and 57.5%, respectively. Patients who underwent revision for PJI had higher mortality rates than expected compared with the general population, and the corresponding SMR (1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24 to 1.39) was greater than that for patients undergoing primary THA (0.81; 95% CI: 0.81 to 0.82) or aseptic revision (0.95; 95% CI: 0.92 to 0.99). A higher SMR following revision for PJI was observed in patients <65 years of age and in female patients, and continued to increase beyond 15 years. There were no differences in mortality rates according to whether a major or minor revision was performed to manage PJI.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients revised for infection had increased mortality rates compared with the general population and those undergoing primary THA or aseptic revision. This excess risk persisted beyond 15 years, especially in younger patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.