Treated Versus Untreated Depression in Total Joint Arthroplasty Impacts Outcomes

To determine if there was a difference in the change in patient-reported physical function (PF) between nondepressed and medically treated depressed or untreated depressed total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients.

This is an Institutional Review Board exempt retrospective review of 280 TJA cases from March 2014 to May 2016. Patient-reported PF was measured as part of the routine care via the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System PF computerized adaptive test. Linear generalized estimating equation regression analyses were used.

Untreated depressed cases demonstrated much smaller gains in PF scores compared to nondepressed patients (P = .020). Additionally, although treated and untreated depressed patients had statistically similar preoperative and postoperative PF scores (P > .05), untreated depressed cases experienced a lower magnitude of change (P = .015).

Medically treated depressed patients may have similar PF gains as nondepressed patients. Larger prospective studies may help identify whether screening for untreated depression and subsequent treatment leads to improved outcomes.