While obesity is associated with an increased risk of complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA) the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of early postoperative complications has not been fully characterized. This study sought to describe the relationship between BMI and the risk of early postoperative complications, including periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), composite surgical, and composite medical complications.

Primary, elective THAs performed from 2016–2021 were identified using the Premier Healthcare Database (PHD). The study's primary outcome was the diagnosis of PJI within 90 days of THA. Using BMI as a continuous variable, logistic regression was used to develop restricted cubic splines (RCSs) to determine the impact of BMI on PJI risk. Bootstrap simulation was used to identify an inflection point in the final RCS model. The same technique was used to characterize the effects of BMI on composite medical and surgical complications.

We found that PJI risk increased exponentially beyond a BMI cutpoint of 37.4 kg/m². Relative to the cutpoint, patients with a BMI of 40 or 50 kg/m² were at a 1.22- and 2.55-fold increased risk of developing PJI, respectively. Surgical complications increased at a BMI of 32 kg/m² and medical complications increased at a BMI of 39 kg/m². Relative to these cutpoints, patients with a BMI of 50 kg/m² were at a 1.36- and 2.07-fold increased risk of developing medical and surgical complications, respectively.

The results of this study indicate a non-linear relationship between patient BMI and early postoperative risk of PJI, composite medical complications, and composite surgical complications following THA. The identified cutpoints with associated odds ratios can serve as tools to help risk-stratify and counsel patients seeking primary THA.

Modular dual mobility (DM) articulations are increasingly utilized during total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, concerns remain regarding the metal liner modularity. This study aims to correlate metal artifact reduction sequence (MARS) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities with serum metal ion levels in patients with DM articulations.

All patients with an asymptomatic, primary THA and DM articulation with >2-year follow-up underwent MARS-MRI of the operative hip. Each patient had serum cobalt, chromium, and titanium levels drawn. Patient satisfaction, Oxford Hip Score, and Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12) were collected. Each MARS-MRI was independently reviewed by fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists blinded to serum ion levels.

Forty-five patients (50 hips) with a modular DM articulation were included with average follow-up of 3.7±1.2 years. Two patients (4.4%) had abnormal periprosthetic fluid collections on MARS-MRI with cobalt levels >3.0 μg/L. Four patients (8.9%) had MARS-MRI findings consistent with greater trochanteric bursitis, all with cobalt levels < 1.0 μg/L. A seventh patient had a periprosthetic fluid collection with normal ion levels. Of the 38 patients without MARS-MRI abnormalities, 37 (97.4%) had cobalt levels <1.0 μg/L, while one (2.6%) had a cobalt level of 1.4 μg/L. One patient (2.2%) had a chromium level >3.0 μg/L and a periprosthetic fluid collection. Of the 41 patients with titanium levels, five (12.2%) had titanium levels >5.0 μg/L without associated MARS-MRI abnormalities.

Periprosthetic fluid collections associated with elevated serum cobalt levels in patients with asymptomatic dual mobility articulations occur infrequently (4.4%), but further assessment of these patients is necessary.

Level of Evidence: Level IV

Aims

Dual mobility (DM) bearings are an attractive treatment option to obtain hip stability during challenging primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) cases. The purpose of this study was to analyze data submitted to the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) to characterize utilization trends of DM bearings in the USA.

Background

Dual mobility bearings are an attractive treatment option to obtain hip stability during challenging primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) cases. Despite growing enthusiasm in the United States, long-term results of modern dual mobility implants are lacking. The purpose of this study is to analyze data submitted to the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) to characterize utilization trends of dual mobility bearings in the United States.

Introduction

The American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) was created to capture total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedural data in order to conduct implant-specific survivorship analyses, produce risk-adjusted patient outcome data, and provide hospitals and surgeons with quality benchmarks. The purpose of this study is to compare early reports from the AJRR to other national registries to identify similarities and differences in surgeon practice and potential topics for future analysis.