Hip Range of Motion Helpful in Evaluating Patient Outcome after Total Hip Arthroplasty

Range of motion, how well a joint moves about naturally, has been a significant measure in the success of knee arthroplasties, or replacements. However, the same attention has not been paid to total hip arthroplasties (THAs).

The authors of this study sought to understand if there is a correlation between a patient's ability to move the hip with a good range of motion will provide a prognosis regarding the success or failure of the THA.

The researchers analyzed the hip range of motion of 1383 patients who had a total of 1517 THAs. Alongside using the Harris hip score, the researchers also evaluated the patients' ability to walk a distance, climb stairs, put on socks and shoes, and sit in a chair, as well as looking for pain, a limp, or the use of a device for support.

Among the patients, whose average age was 69 years, the average body mass index was 28.2 kg/m2. There were more females (57.9 percent) than males. As the evaluations were done, the hips were assigned a function group: high was the ability of the hip to flex more than 115 degrees, turn in the hip 25 degrees or more, and flexion contraction of 20 degrees or less. An average rating was motion of 90 degrees to 114 degrees, turning the hip inward 16 degrees to 24 degrees, and flexion contraction of less than 20 degrees. The low motion group were hips that had a flexion of less than 90 degrees, inward rotation of less than 15 degrees, and a flexion contraction of 20 degrees or higher. Thirty five percent fell into the high group, 51 percent into the average, and 14 percent in the poor.

The findings were correlated with the Harrison hip scores and the researchers found that the numbers associated. The authors thus concluded that using range of motion following a hip replacement is useful in determining prognosis following THA.



References: Kenneth E. Davis, MS, et al. The Importance of Range of Motion after Total Hip Arthroplasty. In Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. December 2007. Vol. 465. Pp. 180-184.