Prevalence of osteoporosis in patients awaiting total hip arthroplasty

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis in patients awaiting total hip arthroplasty. Method: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis awaiting primary total arthroplasty of the hip answered WOMAC questionnaire, VAS and questions about habits, osteoporosis and related diseases. Bone mineral densitometry of the lumbar spine and hips and laboratory tests (complete blood count and examination of calcium metabolism) were performed. Weight and height were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI). The evaluated quantitative characteristics were compared between patients with and without osteoporosis using the Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Thirteen men and 16 women with a mean age of 61.5 years old, WOMAC 51.4; EVA 6.4 and BMI 27.6 were evaluated. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 20.7%, and 37.9% had osteopenia. Patients with osteoporosis were older than patients without osteoporosis (p=0.006). The mean bone mineral density of the femoral neck without hip osteoarthritis was lower than the affected side (p=0.007). Thirty-five percent of patients did not know what osteoporosis is. Of these, 30% had osteopenia or osteoporosis. Conclusion: osteoarthritis and osteoporosis may coexist and the population waiting for total hip arthroplasty should be considered at risk for the presence of osteoporosis. Level of Evidence III, Observational Study.

Osteoporosis in brazilian patients awaiting knee arthroplasty

“…We can infer that osteoarthritis does not appear to protect against osteoporosis, according to the same findings demonstrated by Domingues et al 9 if special attention is given to diagnosis in this group of patients and appropriate treatment is established.…”

“…Domingues et al 9 found a 20.7% prevalence of osteoporosis and 37.9% for osteopenia in patients awaiting total hip arthroplasty. Additionally, the same study found a high prevalence of inadequate serum vitamin D levels, with only 16.6% of patients demonstrating levels considered normal (>30 ng/ml).…”

Importance of Routine Bone Mineral Density Screening Prior to Elective Total Joint Replacement

“…L ow bone mineral density (BMD) appears to be common in patients undergoing total joint replacement (TJR), with up to two thirds and one third meeting criteria for osteopenia and osteoporosis, respectively. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Emerging data raise concerns that low BMD may increase the risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications in patients undergoing TJR. In a study of total ankle arthroplasty, low tibial BMD, as measured by Hounsfield units, from preoperative ankle computed tomography scan was associated with a higher risk for periprosthetic fracture (P=.018), with all intraoperative fractures occurring in patients with tibial Hounsfield units less than 200.…”

Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis

“…Earlier studies [49,50] have indicated that a large proportion of patients awaiting total arthroplasty of the hip or knee because of osteoarthritis also have osteoporosis. An interesting finding of the Australian study [40] is that one out of five women and men with osteoporosis had self-reported osteoarthritis.…”