Complication Rates After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Hepatitis C Compared With Matched Control Patients

BACKGROUND: A paucity of data exists regarding long-term outcomes among patients with hepatitis C who undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: We queried a database for patients with hepatitis C who underwent THA and TKA. We then identified their rates of several postoperative complications and compared them with the same rates among mutually exclusive matched control cohorts. RESULTS: Patients with hepatitis C who underwent THA and TKA had higher rates of infection, aseptic revision surgery, medical complications, and blood transfusion compared with matched control patients. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that patients with hepatitis C who undergo THA and TKA are at increased risk of experiencing several postoperative complications, which could mean a substantial increase in the cost of care. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to establish quantifiable associations between hepatitis C and postoperative complications among patients with the disease who undergo total joint arthroplasty.