Total hip too soon after steroid injection increases SSI risk

Editor's Note

The risk of developing a surgical site infection (SSI) increased significantly in patients who had a total hip within 3 months of receiving a steroid injection in the hip joint, finds this study presented March 2 at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Analyzing 177,000 patients in the Statewide Ambulatory Surgery and Inpatient Databases for Florida and California from 2005 to 2012, researchers from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City found an infection rate of 2.06% in noninjection patients and 2.81% in those who had surgery from 0 to 3 months after an injection, an increased risk of 40%.

No significant increase in infection risk was found in patients who had hip replacement from 3 to 12 months after injection.  

Add to Favorites Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise - Patients considering hip replacement surgery would do well to wait three months if they've had a steroid injection to relieve hip pain, according to a study by Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) researchers.