Effect of dislocation timing following primary total hip arthroplasty on the risk of redislocation and revision

Introduction: There is little data regarding timing of index dislocation in patients who undergo primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and subsequent risk of redislocation and revision. Methods: Between 1992 and 2013, 21,490 primary THAs were performed at a single institution. 189 patients (190 hips) had a first episode of dislocation within one year of index surgery (0.9 %). 32 patients (32 hips) were excluded for the following reasons: complex THA secondary to fracture malunion, Crowe III/IV developmental hip dysplasia, periprosthetic fracture, prior hip surgery, incomplete information, and hip abductor avulsion. The final cohort consisted of 157 patients (158 hips) who experienced dislocation within 1 year of primary non-complex THA. 88 patients were female (56%), mean age was 61 years (SD = 14), and mean follow-up was 76 months (range 0-229). Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression models with fractional polynomial models were used to estimate the association between timing of index dislocation and subsequent redislocation and revision surgery. Results: 69 patients (44%) redislocated at final follow-up. Revision for any cause occurred in 26 out of 157 hips (17%). Time lapse from index THA to first dislocation was significantly associated with the risk of redislocation (p = 0.004) and with the risk of revision (p = 0.04). For every additional 7 days from surgery, risk of redislocation increased by a factor of 1.1 and risk of revision was increased by a factor of 1.13. Conclusion: This study demonstrates there is a lower risk of redislocation and revision in patients who have a first episode of dislocation closer to primary THA.