Computer-Assisted Navigation Is Associated with Reductions in the Rates of Dislocation and Acetabular Component Revision Following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

Background: Prior work suggests that computer-assisted navigation improves acetabular component position during primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, it is not known whether this translates to improvements in clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to test for associations between navigation use and the risk of dislocation, aseptic revision of the acetabular component, aseptic revision of the femoral component, aseptic revision of either component, and acute periprosthetic joint infection (PJI).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study, conducted using the 100% Medicare Part A claims data set. Inclusion criteria were an age of ≥65 years and primary THA for osteoarthritis. First, the association between navigation use and patient and hospital characteristics was assessed. Second, while controlling for these characteristics, multivariate regression was used to test for the association of navigation use and the outcomes listed above.

Results: A total of 803,732 primary THA procedures were identified; 14,540 (1.81%) involved the use of navigation. Navigation use was associated with younger age, other/unknown race, the Western census region, higher socioeconomic status, lower Charlson Comorbidity Index, shorter length of stay, private hospitals, teaching hospitals, and larger hospitals (p < 0.05 for each). Navigation use was associated with a lower rate of dislocation (1.00% versus 1.70% for no navigation; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.58 to 0.82; p < 0.001) and aseptic revision of the acetabular component (1.03% versus 1.55%; adjusted HR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.64 to 0.88; p < 0.001). Navigation was not associated with aseptic revision of the femoral component (1.54% versus 1.87%; p = 0.064), aseptic revision of either component (1.91% versus 2.31%; p = 0.077), acute PJI at 6 weeks (0.34% versus 0.45%; p = 0.121), or acute PJI at 90 days (0.50% versus 0.66%; p = 0.458).

Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that navigation is associated with reductions in the rates of dislocation and aseptic acetabular revision following primary THA. However, these results should be interpreted carefully in the setting of potential confounding by unmeasured variables, such as surgeon volume, family support, and patient compliance. Causality cannot be inferred until further prospective trials can vet this technology.

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.