Decreasing Length of Hospital Stay and Postoperative Complications after Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Decade Analysis From 2006 to 2016

Abstract Background In an attempt to decrease costs without increasing complication burden, the development of rapid recovery protocols have led to an increased push for decreased length of hospital following total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to analyze trends in length of hospital stay (LOS) and complications following total hip arthroplasty over a ten-year period. Methods Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program registry from 2006 to 2016, we identified all patients who underwent primary THA. Patients were placed into three cohorts based on the year of surgery (2006-2009 [N=3,873], 2010-2013 [N=45,992], 2014-2016 [N=86,099]). Differences in LOS, operative time, readmission rates, and 30-day postoperative medical complications were compared using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results Multivariate regression analysis identified a significant decrease in LOS in days for the 2010-2013 cohort (3.2 ± 4.8, p p Conclusion Over the last decade, there has been a decrease in LOS and an improved short-term complication profile for THA. With continually increasing rates of utilization of THA along broader patient demographics, these changes are important to help mitigate the costs of higher volume.