Methamphetamines and Acetabular Reoperation Rates: Poor Outcomes From the Front Lines

Abstract

Objectives: To compare acetabular fracture reoperation rates within 1 year of surgery in methamphetamine ("meth") abusers and abstainers.Design: Retrospective database analysis.

Active Amphetamine Abuse in Total Hip Arthroplasty Carries Increased Risk for Postoperative Surgical and Medical Complications

“…The effect of amphetamine abuse within the arthroplasty realm is limited, with most research being within orthopaedic trauma where in some regions, amphetamine abuse is pervasive. In a retrospective database review from 2008-2018 at a level 1 academic trauma center, of 371 patients who underwent traumatic acetabular open reduction internal fixation, nearly 10% abused methamphetamines [ 4 ]. This study found that methamphetamine abusers had more than 2 times the reoperation rate at 90 days postoperatively (17% vs 7%), and 1 year postoperatively (25% vs 11%) compared to abstainers, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1 year reoperation of 3.2 (95% CI 1.2-8.5, P = .03).…”

“…While there is a paucity of research among arthroplasty literature, amphetamine abuse, in particular methamphetamine abuse has been shown to lead to adverse surgical and medical outcomes particularly within orthopaedic trauma literature. One retrospective study from a single level 1 trauma institution found a 3-fold increase in reoperation rates for patients who abuse methamphetamine undergoing open reduction and internal fixation for acetabular fracture [ 4 ]. Research has shown that patients with amphetamine abuse disorder have higher resource utilization, with increased cardiovascular perioperative complications, longer length of stay, and higher in-hospital mortality and readmission rate [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ].…”