Similar complication and readmission rates following simultaneous versus staged bilateral total hip arthroplasty

Purpose: To compare short-term complications and readmission rates, in patients treated with simultaneous versus staged bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) within a year from the index procedure.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of patients that underwent simultaneous and staged-within a year-bilateral THA, between 2016 and 2020. Preoperative baseline characteristics were evaluated, while differences in terms of 30-day major and 30-day minor complications and readmission rates were compared between the groups.

Results: One-hundred-sixty patients (mean age, 64.3 years; SD, ± 11.7) were identified. Seventy-nine patients were treated with simultaneous (Group A) and eighty-one patients with staged (Group B) THA. There were no differences in baseline characteristic between the two groups (p > 0.050). Group A was more likely to receive general anesthesia (43% vs. 9.9%, p < 0.001) and had longer total operative time (182.8 vs. 128.0 min, p < 0.001). Group A had an overall shorter total length of hospital stay (5.8 vs. 8.6 days, p < 0.001). No differences in transfusion rates (p = 0.229) and no differences in major and minor complications (p > 0.05) were identified. Postoperative visits at the emergency department or readmissions were similar between the two groups (p > 0.050).

Conclusion: This study shows that similar complication and readmission rates are expected after simultaneous and staged THA. Simultaneous bilateral THA is a safe and effective procedure, that should be considered for patients that present with radiologic and clinical bilateral hip disease.