Increased rates of spinal fusion surgery in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis: a five-year propensity matched cohort analysis

Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis is an inheritable condition that mainly affects White populations of European descent. Most patients remain asymptomatic, but others develop advanced organ damage that reduces quality of life and long-term survival. Arthropathy, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and cardiomyopathy are key clinical manifestations. Primary care and hospital medicine physicians play an essential role in early identification of this disease, which can be accomplished via standard hematologic testing. Early diagnosis and therapeutic phlebotomy improve clinical outcomes.

A Matched-Cohort Analysis of Outcomes in Patients with Hereditary Hemochromatosis After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

BACKGROUND

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a common autosomal recessive disorder. This disease affects gut iron transport, leading to iron overload, which affects immune function, coagulation mechanics, and bone health. Within the spine, HH contributes to decreased bone mineral density and accelerated intervertebral disc degeneration. The purpose of this study was to discover the differences in the rates of common 90-day postoperative complications and 1-year and 2-year surgical outcomes in patients with and without HH after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

METHODS

Using the PearlDiver database, patients with active diagnoses of HH before ACDF were matched to patients without HH using a 1:5 ratio on the basis of age, sex, body mass index, and comorbidities. Postoperative complications were assessed at 90 days, and 1-year and 2-year surgical outcomes were assessed. All outcomes and complications were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression with significance achieved at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Patients with HH had significantly higher rates of 1-year and 2-year reoperation rates compared with patients without HH (29.19% vs. 3.94% and 37.1% vs. 5.93%, respectively; P < 0.001). The rates of 90-day postoperative complications significantly increased in patients with HH including dysphagia, pneumonia, cerebrovascular accident, deep vein thrombosis, acute kidney injury, urinary tract infection, hyponatremia, surgical site infection, iatrogenic deformity, emergency department visit, and hospital readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with HH undergoing ACDF showed increased 90-day postoperative complications and significantly increased rates of 1-year and 2-year reoperation compared with patients without HH. These findings suggest that iron overload may contribute to adverse outcomes in patients with HH undergoing 1-level and 2-level ACDF.

Postoperative Complications in Patients With Hereditary Hemochromatosis Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Matched Cohort Analysis

AIMS

The purpose of this study is to determine differences in the rates of 90-day postoperative complications and 2- and 5-year surgical outcomes between patients with and without hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA).

METHODS

Patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from 2010 to 2018 were identified in a national database (PearlDiver Technologies) using Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases-9/10 codes. Patients with a history of HH were identified within the THA and TKA cohorts and matched with non-HH patients based on age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, smoking status, and obesity (body mass index > 30). Ninety-day medical complications assessed included renal failure, arrhythmia, bleeding complications, blood transfusion, pneumonia, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, liver failure, heart failure, pulmonary embolism, sepsis, surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, readmission rate, and death. Two- and 5-year surgical complications assessed included all-cause revision, prosthetic joint infection, implant loosening, joint stiffness, and manipulation under anesthesia. All complications were analyzed using bivariate analysis and logistic regression, with significance set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Compared with non-HH patients, patients with HH had higher rates of stiffness at 2 and 5 years after THA (all, P < 0.001), as well as higher rates of aseptic loosening at 5 years after TKA (P = 0.036). However, patients with HH undergoing THA and TKA had no notable difference in 90-day postoperative complications when compared with non-HH patients.

DISCUSSION

Compared with non-HH patients, patients with HH undergoing TJA were shown to have worse 2- and 5-year surgical outcomes, without any increased risk of 90-day medical complications. These findings may be useful for surgical decision making for patients with HH undergoing TJA.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This study addresses a paucity in the current literature concerning the complication profile in HH patients with destructive joint arthropathy undergoing joint arthroplasty surgery.