Zhang H, et al. - In this single-center, prospective observational study, 287 consecutive elderly osteoarthritis patients scheduled to undergo hip replacement with epidural anesthesia were examined for potential risk factors for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). At an incidence of 19.2%, POCD was reported in 55 patients within 7 postoperative days. Results indicate that in elderly subjects undergoing hip joint replacement, increased preoperative serum pNF-H expression was an independent risk factor for POCD development. This implies that anatomical damage in central nervous system (CNS) is closely associated with POCD.