Nine-Year Incidence of Kidney Disease in Patients Who Have Had Total Hip Arthroplasty

Metal-metal total hip arthroplasty (THA) is contraindicated in patients with impaired renal function due to increased metal ion output relative to other bearings and renal excretion of metal ions. Although one can avoid a metal-metal THA in a patient with renal disease, a patient may be destined to develop renal disease later in life. In this study, we sought to determine the incidence of newly diagnosed renal disease in the 9 years after THA. Using the Department of Veterans Affairs national database, we identified 1709 patients who had a primary THA in 2000 without preexisting renal disease. We found the 9-year risk of developing chronic renal disease after primary THA to be 14% and severe or end-stage renal disease to be 6%.