Low rates of renal injury in total joint arthroplasty patients without pre-existing renal disease

Acute kidney injury is a reported complication of total joint arthroplasty (TJA), with potentially severe long-term complications. Our study aimed to identify the rate of perioperative renal injury in patients without pre-existing renal dysfunction who undergo TJA. Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we identified a mean annual rate of perioperative renal injury of 0.172% between 2009 and 2015. Factors most strongly associated with perioperative renal injury are age of 70 years or older, current smoking, history of diabetes mellitus, history of hypertension, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class of 3 or greater. There was no significant increase in the rate of renal injury from year to year. In patients without pre-existing renal disease, perioperative rates of acute kidney injury remain low in patients undergoing TJA. Keywords: Renal injury, Total joint arthroplasty, Perioperative complications, Patient risk factor