Functional Outcomes of Hip Arthroplasty in Active Duty Military Service Members

There are few reports on outcomes after hip arthroplasty in the military population despite increases among young, active patients. U.S. Army service members with coded hip arthroplasty between 2004 and 2010 were reviewed. Patient demographic variables were correlated with occupational outcomes.  Of 183 patients, the occupational outcomes at a minimum 2 years postoperatively for service members undergoing primary hip arthroplasty were medically separated (n D 44, 24%), retired (n D 82, 45%), and returned to active duty (n D 57, 31%). Multivariate analysis identified that age less than 40 years [odds ratio (OR), 3.41; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14, 10.12] and enlisted rank (OR, 3.63; 95% CI, 1.29, 10.20) as major independent risk factors for medical separation. Univariate analysis revealed that officer rank had an increased likelihood of postoperative combat deployment than enlisted rank (OR, 3.39; 95% CI, 1.50, 7.94). Despite encouraging results in the civilian literature, this study documents modest retention rates on active duty at a minimum of 2 years after primary hip arthroplasty. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 22(1):16–22, 2013)