Patient-reported outcome after dislocation of primary total hip arthroplasties: a cross-sectional study derived from the Danish Hip Arthroplasty Register

Background and purpose - Knowledge regarding patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after dislocation and closed reduction is lacking. We report health- and hip-related quality of life (QoL) after dislocation, following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Patients and methods - We conducted a cross-sectional study with patients registered in the Danish Hip Arthroplasty Register from 2010 to 2014. Dislocations were captured based on diagnosis/procedure codes and patient file reviews. Patients with dislocation were matched 1:2, according to age, sex, date, and hospital of primary surgery, to patients without dislocation. 2 PRO questionnaires were applied (EQ-5D, HOOS). Results - We identified 1,010 living patients with dislocation. Mean follow-up was 7.2 years from index surgery and 4.9 years (range 0.6-9.7) from the latest dislocation. Patients without dislocation reported a higher EQ VAS score of 76 (95% CI 75-77) compared with 68 (CI 66-70) for the dislocation group. The EQ-5D-5L mean index score was 0.89 (CI 0.88-0.90) for the control group, compared with 0.78 (CI 0.76-0.80) for the cases with dislocation without revision. Patients with dislocation reported a lower HOOS-QoL domain score of 63 (CI 60-65), compared with 83 (CI 82-84) for the control group. Even 5 years after the latest dislocation, the HOOS-QoL score remained low, at 66 (CI 62-69). The other HOOS domains were consistently 8-10 points worse after dislocation. Interpretation - Both health- and hip-related QoL were markedly and persistently reduced among dislocation patients compared with those in controls, for several years. Therefore, the avoidance of the initial dislocation episode is important because the THA does not appear to achieve the full relieving potential.