Effects of postoperative pain management on mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty; retrospective study

Aims: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most common operations performed today and is associated with significant postoperative pain. Inadequate pain control causes delayed mobilization and prolonged hospital stay, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to compare the length of hospital stay, postoperative infection, mortality and morbidity in patients with and without regional analgesia technique in the postoperative period. Methods: Patients with missing records were excluded. 444 patients were included in the study and divided into two groups according to postoperative analgesia management. Patients who received peripheral block for postoperative analgesia (Group Block +) and patients who received IV analgesics for postoperative analgesia (Group Block -). Gender, ASA scores, laboratory data, postoperative blood component transfusion surgical site infection, length of hospital stay (days) and mortality data of the patients were analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups with and without block in terms of gender, age and ASA classification (p>0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between the WBC difference and discharge rate (p<0.05). This finding showed that the effect of WBC change on discharge was significant, although at a low level. A significant positive correlation was found between the length of stay in the intensive care unit and CRP changes (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in infection and mortality rates between the groups with and without block (p>0.05). Conclusion: Short-term mortality, length of hospital stay, and infection parameters were similar after hip replacement surgery with or without regional analgesia techniques. Block application was effective in reducing the postoperative inflammatory response but did not significantly improve infection, mortality, or other clinical outcomes.