Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients are increasingly traveling greater distances to receive care at high-volume centers. The effect of travel distance on patient-reported outcomes after hip resurfacing arthroplasty has not been described. METHODS: Patients undergoing HRA by a single surgeon from January 2007 to April 2018 with minimum 2-year follow-up were reviewed retrospectively. Five hundred ninety-nine patients were identified and divided into 2 cohorts: home-to-hospital distance >100 miles and ≤100 miles from our institution. Preoperative and 2-year postoperative patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were assessed, including the modified Harris Hip Score and Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for each PROM was calculated using the distribution-based method. Chi-square tests were used for univariate comparison. Poisson regressions controlling for demographic variables were performed to determine the effect of travel distance on whether patients achieved the MCID. Multivariate linear regressions were used to determine association between distance and improvement in PROMs. RESULTS: A total of 599 patients met criteria for inclusion. There were 113 (18.9%) with a home-to-hospital distance >100 miles and 486 (81.1%) with distance ≤100 miles. Age was the only demographic factor different between these groups (mean: 1.1-year difference, P < .001). There were no significant differences in reaching the MCID on any PROM between these groups. Multivariate linear regressions revealed no associations between travel distance and improvement in PROMs. CONCLUSIONS: Travel distance to a high-volume center did not affect 2-year patient-reported outcomes or rate of achieving the MCID in patients undergoing hip resurfacing arthroplasty.