Study Looks at the Importance of Timing in Spinal Fusion

and Total Hip Arthroplasty

For Immediate Release
November 8, 2020

Dallas – A presentation at the 30th AAHKS Annual Meeting reported on the often-debated relationship between low back spinal fusion and total hip arthroplasty (THA). The timing of both procedures have been brought into question as several studies have documented “hip spine syndrome” with concurrent degenerative diseases in both the hip and lumber spine.

As there have been few large studies that directly compared the results of patients who underwent fusion prior to THA to those who underwent fusion after THA, this study matched these two groups to assess postoperative outcomes. All identified patients underwent the THA portion between 2010 and 2018.

Lead author, Nequesha S. Mohamed, MD, and co-authors, Ethan A. Remily, DO, Wayne A. Wilkie, DO, Sahir S. Pervaiz, MD, Scott J. Douglas, MD, Justin A. Stafford, DO, Johannes F. Plate, MD, Qais Naziri, MD, MBA, James Nace, DO, and Ronald E. Delanois, MD, found that the length of stay for pre-THA patients was slightly shorter, but pre-THA fusion patients experienced significantly more dislocations in the postoperative period compared to post-THA fusion patients. There was a similar number of revisions performed for both groups.

The study concluded that “it may be more beneficial for patients with “hip spine syndrome” requiring both spinal fusion and THA to undergo THA prior to lumbar fusion.”

Abstract: http://meeting.aahks.org/wp-content/uploads/20_paper-39-mohamed.pdf

About the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
Established in 1991, the mission of AAHKS is to advance hip and knee patient care through education and advocacy. AAHKS has a membership of over 4,000 surgeons and other hip and knee health care professionals.