OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed in one session is a safe procedure. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHOD: In a literature search, 1460 studies were found of which 5 prospective in nature and which met our inclusion criteria. The patient data from these studies were pooled for meta-analysis. Data from 579 patients could be pooled for the two-session bilateral THA group and data from 334 patients for the one-session THA group. RESULTS: After this pooling of data, no difference in major complications was found (odds ratio: 0.72; 95%-CI: 0.45-1.15). Minor complications occurred more often in the one-session group (odds ratio: 0.50; 95%-CI: 0.32-0.78). Intra-operative blood loss was less in the one-session group (121.7 ml; 95%-CI: 51.6-191.9), whilst the number of transfusions was greater in this group than in the two-session group (-0.5 units; 95%-CI: -0.74--0.20). Duration of the surgical procedure was not influenced by the choice for one or two sessions (difference: 6.0 minutes; 95%-CI: -2.4-14.4). Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the one-session group (3.2 days; 95%-CI: 3.0-3.7). CONCLUSION: We conclude that one-session bilateral THA appears to be a safe procedure in selected patients.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed in one session is a safe procedure. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHOD: In a literature search, 1460 studies were found of which 5 prospective in nature and which met our inclusion criteria. The patient data from these studies were pooled for meta-analysis. Data from 579 patients could be pooled for the two-session bilateral THA group and data from 334 patients for the one-session THA group. RESULTS: After this pooling of data, no difference in major complications was found (odds ratio: 0.72; 95%-CI: 0.45-1.15). Minor complications occurred more often in the one-session group (odds ratio: 0.50; 95%-CI: 0.32-0.78). Intra-operative blood loss was less in the one-session group (121.7 ml; 95%-CI: 51.6-191.9), whilst the number of transfusions was greater in this group than in the two-session group (-0.5 units; 95%-CI: -0.74--0.20). Duration of the surgical procedure was not influenced by the choice for one or two sessions (difference: 6.0 minutes; 95%-CI: -2.4-14.4). Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the one-session group (3.2 days; 95%-CI: 3.0-3.7). CONCLUSION: We conclude that one-session bilateral THA appears to be a safe procedure in selected patients.