Osteoarthrosis is the most frequent joint disorder in the world. An increased incidence of total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) has been noticed recently.
To investigate demographic characteristics, comorbidities, surgical factors and postoperative complications of patients who received THR or TKR.
Patients aged at least 30 years hospitalized at the Clinics for Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, for THR or TKR between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2010. were included in a retrospective cohort study.
Out of 529 investigated patients, 421 (79.6%) were in the THR group, and 108 were in the TKR group. Patients in the TKR group were 68.7+7.8 year old in average and were significantly older than patients in the THR group (p<0.01). There were more women than men in both gro-ups, but no statistical significance was observed. Hyperte-nsion, which was the most frequent comorbidity, was noticed in 96 (18.1%) patients. 40% of patients were of poor physical condition (ASA 3 and more) approximately. Re-gional anaesthesia was performed more frequently in the TKR group than in the THR group (p < 0.01). The operations of knee replacement surgery lasted longer than hip replacement surgery (139.9 +/- 30.1 min; p < 0.01O). All patients received thromboprophylactic drugs. Five patients (0.9%) who were in the THR group had prosthesis dislocation as one of the observed postoperative complication. The mean duration of hospitalization of patients in the TKR group was 29.7+24.7 days which was longer than in the THR group (p < 0.01).
Older population, especially women were operated on more frequently in the both groups. Regional anaesthesia was performed more frequently in the TKR group. Although a large percentage of patients had cardiovascular disorders and were of poor physical condition, postoperative complications were rare.