Preop scale predicts readmission after total hip

Editor's Note

In this study, a new risk-stratification scale identified high-risk patients for readmission within 30 days after total hip replacement with 89.1% accuracy.

Nearly 269,000 hip replacement patients from the State Inpatient Database were analyzed, and factors associated with an increased risk of readmission were used to create the Readmission After Total Hip Replacement Risk (RATHRR) Scale. The scale was applied to a validation cohort of 153, 560 total hip patients.

To mitigate readmission risk, the RATHRR Scale allows physicians to identify high-risk patients and determine individualized care programs before and after surgery, the researchers note.

Importance Total hip replacement is a commonly performed orthopedic procedure for the treatment of painful arthritis, osteonecrosis, or fracture. Objective To develop and verify a scale for predicting readmission rates for total hip replacement patients and allow for the development and implementation of readmission risk-reduction strategies.