Original Research

Preoperative Corticosteroid Use for Medical Conditions is Associated with Increased Postoperative Infectious Complications and Readmissions After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Propensity-Matched Study

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CLINCIAL OUTCOMES BY STEROID STATUS

A comparison of unadjusted cohorts showed that patients who used preoperative steroids had an increased rate of any complication (7.89%) when compared with those who did not (4.87%) (Table 2).

Bivariate Comparison of Adverse Outcomes in Unadjusted Cohorts by Steroid Status

Similarly, those who used corticosteroids preoperatively had an increased rate of renal complications, respiratory complications, return to the operating room, sepsis, UTI, superficial and deep SSI, and perioperative blood transfusions. They also were more likely to have a 30-day hospital readmission (P < .05 for all comparisons).

When propensity-matched cohorts were compared, patients who used steroids preoperatively were found to have higher rates of any complication (odds Ratio [OR] 1.30, P = .003), sepsis (OR 2.07, P = .022), UTI (OR 1.61, P = .020), superficial SSI (OR 1.73, P = .038), and hospital readmission (OR 1.50, P < .001; Table 3).

Bivariate Comparison of Adverse Outcomes in Propensity-Matched Cohorts by Steroid Status

REASONS FOR HOSPITAL READMISSION

In total, 3397 patients were readmitted to the hospital within thirty days. Of these, 226 used steroids preoperatively, and 3171 did not (Table 4).

Reasons for Hospital Readmission after Total Hip Arthroplasty by Steroid Status

The most common reason for hospital readmission in patients who used preoperative corticosteroids was infectious complications (72 patients, 31.9% of all readmitted patients in this cohort), followed by medical complications (59 patients, 26.1%), and hip-related complications (48 patients, 21.2%). In those who did not use steroids preoperatively, the most common reason for hospital readmission was medical complications (932 patients, 29.4% of all readmitted patients in this cohort), followed by infectious complications (792 patients, 25.0%), and hip-related complications (763 patients, 24.1%).

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