Waiting for hip revision surgery: the impact on patient disability.
OBJECTIVE
Increased wait times for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are a concern nationally and provincially. Additionally, the number of patients requiring revision of their initial TJA is increasing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the wait times and impact of waiting for revision TJA.


METHODS
We followed 127 revision hip arthroplasty patients (mean age 68 y) prospectively while they waited for surgery. We collected Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (pain, stiffness and physical function) data at the decision for surgery and at 6-month intervals until surgery.


RESULTS
The mean wait time for surgery was 123.8 days (mean wait times for individual surgeons ranged from 7 to 213 d). Of the patients, 106 waited < 6 months, 12 waited 6-12 months and 9 waited > 12 months. Wait times evaluated up to 6 months, 6-12 months or > 12 months demonstrated significant increases in pain (F = 7.12, p = 0.01), with a mean change of 2.6 points when patients waited > 6 months. Physical disability increased (F = 4.61, p = 0.01), with a mean change of 5.1 points when the wait time was 6-12 months and 8.8 points when the wait time was > 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Waiting > 6 months for revision hip arthroplasty resulted in significant increases in pain and physical disability.
Davis
Aileen M
AM
Outcomes and Population Health, Arthritis Community Research and Evaluation Unit, University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada. adavis@uhnresearch.ca
Agnidis
Zoe
Z
Badley
Elizabeth
E
Davey
J Roderick
JR
Gafni
Amiram
A
Gollish
Jeffrey
J
Mahomed
Nizar N
NN
Saleh
Khaled J
KJ
Schemitsch
Emil H
EH
Szalai
John Paul
JP
Waddell
James P
JP
Gross
Allan E
AE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009864:Ontario; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011594:Psychometrics; D012086:Reoperation; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014850:Waiting Lists