Identification of Risk Factors of Prolonged Wound Healing Following Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Study type: Prospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria: All patients receiving primary total hip or knee replacement surgery at Hvidovre Hospital from January 1st 2012 to December 31st 2014.

Exclusion criteria: none Intervention: none

New hypothesis to be tested:

1. Hypertension is associated with prolonged wound drainage and increased risk of infection
2. Patients receiving Statin treatment have decreased postoperative wound drainage and decreased risk of infection.
3. Patients receiving Bisphosphonate treatment have increased postoperative wound drainage and increased risk of infection.

Measured patient related risk variables: Age, sex, primary OA diagnosis, diabetes, smoking, BMI, alcohol consumption, autoimmune disease and hypertension will all be recorded upon admission of the patient to the hospital. Hypertension will be defined when a patient is diagnosed with HT previously to the surgery, receives medical treatment and have systolic / diastolic BP above 140/90 mmHg upon admission. Patients with normal BP upon admission receiving treatment for HT will be classified as having regulated HT. Patients with elevated BP upon admission without previous HT diagnosis will be classified as having newly diagnosed HT. "Smoking" will de divided into smokers, non-smokers and former smokers. Further on, average number of cigarettes pr day during the last month will be recorded for current smokers.