Independent Risk Factors for Transfusion in Contemporary Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty

The incidence of transfusion in contemporary revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains high despite recent advances in blood management, including the use of tranexamic acid. The purpose of this prospective investigation was to determine independent risk factors for transfusion in revision THA.

Six centers prospectively collected data on 175 revision THAs. A multivariable logistic analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors for transfusion. Revisions were categorized into subgroups for analysis, including femur-only, acetabulum-only, both-component, explantation with spacer, and second-stage reimplantation. Patients undergoing an isolated modular exchange were excluded.

Twenty-nine patients required at least one unit of blood (16.6%). In the logistic model, significant risk factors for transfusion were lower preoperative hemoglobin, higher preoperative international normalized ratio (INR), and longer operative time (P < .01, P = .04, P = .05, respectively). For each preoperative 1g/dL decrease in hemoglobin, the chance of transfusion increased by 79%. For each 0.1-unit increase in the preoperative INR, transfusion chance increased by 158%. For each additional operative hour, the chance of transfusion increased by 74%. There were no differences in transfusion rates among categories of revision hip surgery (P = .23). No differences in demographic or surgical variables were found between revision types.

Despite the use of tranexamic acid, transfusions are commonly required in revision THA. Preoperative hemoglobin and INR optimization are recommended when medically feasible. Efforts should also be made to decrease operative time when technically possible.