COVID-19 infection rate after urgent versus elective total hip replacement among unvaccinated individuals: A multicenter prospective cohort amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals have become unsafe for patients as potential sources of virus transmission. This study aims to determine the COVID-19 infection rate after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) among unvaccinated patients. THA patients undergoing elective or traumatic (urgent) THA were compared regarding COVID-19 contraction. METHODS: Primary THA patients were prospectively followed from three hospitals in *two great cities* of the country between April 2020 to August 2021. If the patient had suspected COVID-19 symptoms, had a SARS-CoV-2 PCR test from nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs and/or chest CT scan. RESULTS: Finally, information was received from 436 patients, including 345 (79.1) elective and 91 (20.9) traumatic THAs. Eight patients (1.8) contracted COVID-19 within a month after THA discharge, and two died due to COVID-19. There was no statistical difference between COVID-19 disease and type of surgery (elective 1.4 versus traumatic 3.3, P = 0.24). Women (Odds ratio (95 CI) = 8.5 (2.1-35.2), P = 0.01) and those who have heart disease (Odds ratio with Haldane-Anscombe correction ≈ 14.0, P = 0.01) were more likely to contract COVID-19 postoperatively. CONCLUSION: In both elective and urgent cases of THA, researchers found that there is not a high risk of contracting the virus during the peri-surgery period. Urgent THA surgeries are comparable to elective THA-with those strict pre-elective surgery protocols-in terms of COVID-19 risk of infection from the hospital stay if appropriate health protocols are followed.