LAUSR

INTRODUCTION Alloplasty is one of the most frequently performed procedures, due to its impact on the quality of life. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, and clinical implications of post-discharge pneumonia (PNU) after hip endoprostheses in Polish adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective study was conducted using the database of the National Health Fund containing data from 55,842 hip arthroplasties performed in 2017. RESULTS Post-discharge PNU was identified in 371 patients and accounted for 26.6% of all post-discharge infections, incidence rate of 0.7%. Multivariable analysis showed a significantly higher risk of PNU in patients aged 65 and older (OR 3.5, 95%CI 2.40-5.03), urgently admitted (OR 4.0, 95%CI 3.16-4.98), operated in winter (OR 1.7, 95%CI 1.37-2.11) and hospitalized in the intensive care unit (OR 5.9, 95%CI 3.65-9.46). Preventative factors were pre-surgery treatment in diseases of the musculoskeletal system (OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.59-0.91) and post-operative rehabilitation (both outpatient and inpatient OR 0.3, 95%CI 0.10-0.99, and OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.42-0.99, respectively). Seventy patients (18.9% of PNU cases) required inpatient PNU treatment. The in-hospital case fatality rate observed in post-discharge PNU was 21.4%. CONCLUSIONS PNU is one of the most common post-operative infections after hip endoprosthesis, especially in winter, requiring re-hospitalization. Efforts should be made to prepare patients in the perioperative period.