OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence, predisposing factors and therapeutic modalities of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) in patients after total hip arthroplasties (THA) and total knee arthroplasties (TKA).

METHODSFrom January 2006 to December 2009, 12 patients with ACPO after THA and TKA operation were investigated retrospectively,who were viewed as the ACPO group. There were 10 males and 2 females with an average age of (78 +/- 12) years in the ACPO group. Other 853 patients without ACPO after THA and TKA operation were viewed as the control group treated at the same period. The incidence of ACPO was calculated. The clinical data were collected and compared between the two groups including patient age, gender, procedure, anesthetic class, clinical presentation, radiographic findings, duration from index surgery to diagnosis of ACPO, treatment, postoperative mobilization time, and length of hospital stay.

RESULTSThe incidence of ACPO was 1.4%. The incidence of primary THA (1.3%) was higher than that of primary TKA (0.4%); the incidence of hip and knee revisions (5.0%) was higher than that of primary THA and TKA (1.0%); there was no difference in incidence between hip revisions (5.5%) and knee revisions (4.0%). The mean age was (78 +/- 12) years old in ACPO group and (71 +/- 13) in the control group. The male/female ratio was 5:1 in ACPO group and 2:3 in control group. There were statistical differences in mean age and gender ratio between the two groups. No association was found with respect to anesthetic class. On average, ACPO occurred at 2.5 days after index surgery. The abdominal distention occurred in all 12 cases, nausea or vomiting in 8 cases and abdominal pain in 3 cases. Radiographically cecal dilation occurred in all cases and intestinal dilation in 3 cases. All patients initially were treated conservatively with immediate cessation of oral intake,a nasogastric tube and oral mineral oil. Three patients received a rectal tube. Only 1 patient required endoscopic decompression. There were no deaths after ACPO in the series. Mean mobilization time after surgery averaged (5.0 +/- 2.2) days in ACPO group compared with (2.5 +/- 1.1) days in the control group. Mean hospital stay averaged (16.5 +/- 6.4) days in ACPO group compared with (10.5 +/- 4.5) days in the control group. There were statistical differences in mean mobilization time after surgery and mean hospital stay between two groups.

CONCLUSIONACPO mainly happened in old male patients. The majority cases response to conservative treatment and their prognoses are good. But ACPO will delay mobilization time after surgery and increase hospital stay.