Early Death Following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

This study aims to describe the timing, cause of death, and excess surgical mortality associated with primary total hip arthroplasty when compared to a population awaiting primary total hip arthroplasty. Mortality rates were calculated at cutoffs of 30 and 90 days post-operation or following the addition to the waiting list. Cause of death was recorded from the death certificate. An excess surgical mortality of 0.256% at 30 days (P = 0.002) and 0.025% at 90 days post-operation (P = 0.892), unaffected by age or gender, was seen with myocardial infarction and pneumonia the cause of death in the majority of cases. By using a more appropriate control population, an excess surgical mortality at 30 days post-operation is demonstrated; the effect diminishes at 90 days post-operation.