Total hip arthroplasty in patients receiving workers' compensation

Numerous studies have reported on the adverse outcome of patients who susta in job-related injuries. In addition, studies have reported poor outcomes i n patients receiving Workers' Compensation who undergo elective surgery. Th is study sought to determine the influence of Workers' Compensation on the outcome of patients who had undergone primary total hip arthroplasty, Betwe en January 1984 and December 1996, 44 patients (48 hips) were studied. Of t hese, 17 were men and five were women with a mean age of 45 years (range, 2 7-76 years) at the time of surgery. These patients were receiving compensat ion benefits and were matched directly with a group of 22 patients who had 24 arthroplasties and were not receiving compensation. After a mean final f ollowup of 77 months (range, 25-125 months), the compensation group had a m ean Harris hip score of 86 points (range, 54-95 points). The matched contro l group had a mean Harris hip score of 92 points (range, 79-100 points) at a mean final duration of followup of 80 months. Two patients (9%) had under gone revision surgery for aseptic loosening at 28 and 67 months. The percen tage of patients with good or excellent results did not differ significantl y between the two groups, Based on these findings, the authors think that W orkers' Compensation does not negatively influence the outcome of total hip arthroplasty.