Bone Mineral Density is Associated With Adverse Events but not Patient-Reported Outcomes in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Background Although osteoporosis is common in patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA), its impact on postoperative outcomes has been inadequately studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of bone mineral density (BMD) on adverse events and patient-reported outcomes in THA and TKA. Methods A series of 1,306 THA and 1,046 TKA patients who had received osteodensitometry were analyzed retrospectively. Rates of readmission, complication, transfusion, and patient-reported outcome were correlated with BMD. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between osteoporosis and adverse events. Results Osteoporosis patients showed higher rates of 90-day readmission (THA: 8.5% versus 4.0%, P = .02; TKA: 8.9% versus 4.4%, P = .04) and transfusion (THA: 6.8% versus 1.2%, P < .001; TKA: 5.4% versus 1.5%, P = .005). After THA, rates of complications requiring intensive care management (5.1% versus 0.7%, P < .001) and rates of medical complications (3.5% versus 0.6%, P = .001) were increased. After TKA, rates of surgical complications (2.8% versus 0.8%, P = .04) were increased. Postoperatively, osteoporosis patients improved to comparable patient-reported outcomes as patients who had normal BMD. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed osteoporosis as an independent risk factor for readmissions, complications, and transfusions. Conclusion Osteoporosis is a risk factor for adverse events after THA and TKA. Affected patients show similar improvement of patient-reported outcome compared to patients who have normal BMD. As osteoporosis is modifiable, a systematic screening of patients scheduled for THA or TKA should be discussed.