Does walking the day of total hip arthroplasty speed up functional independence? A non-randomized controlled study

Federico Temporiti; Isabella Draghici; Stefano Fusi; Francesco Traverso; Riccardo Ruggeri; Guido Grappiolo; Roberto Gatti

doi:10.1186/s40945-020-00079-7

Does walking the day of total hip arthroplasty speed up functional independence? A non-randomized controlled study

Arch Physiother. 2020 Apr 24:10:8. doi: 10.1186/s40945-020-00079-7. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Federico Temporiti^{1

2}, Isabella Draghici³, Stefano Fusi¹, Francesco Traverso³, Riccardo Ruggeri³, Guido Grappiolo³, Roberto Gatti^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ 1Physiotherapy Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Via Manzoni 56 - Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
² 2Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy.
³ 3Hip and Knee Orthopaedic Surgery Department, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.

Abstract

Background: Few data address modalities for speeding up functional independence in subjects included in a fast-track approach after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The study aim was to assess short-term effects of mobilization and walking the day of THA (WDS) on independence, pain, function and quality of life.

Methods: Seventy-one patients were allocated in a study (SG: n = 36) or control (CG: n = 35) groups according to time of surgery and recovery from anesthesia. Patients who recovered lower limbs sensitivity (disappearance of sensation deficits) and motility (MRC scale ≥3 at knee, ankle and great toe extension) by 7.00 p.m. made up the SG, whereas patients who underwent surgery later and recovered from anesthesia after 7.00 p.m. made up the CG. SG underwent WDS, whereas CG performed mobilization and walking the day after surgery starting the same physiotherapy program 1 day later. Patients were evaluated for independence (Functional Independence Measure - FIM), pain (Numeric Rating Scale - NRS), hip function (Harris Hip Score - HHS) and quality of life (EuroQoL-5Dimension - EQ. 5D and EQ. 5D-VAS)the day before surgery, at 3 and 7 days in a hospital setting. Analysis of Covariance with age (SG: mean 60.9, SD 9.0; CG: mean 65.5, SD 8.9) and BMI (SG: mean 27.4, SD 2.8; CG: mean 26.7, SD 2.4) as covariates was used to assess between-group differences over time.

Results: Between-groups differences were observed for FIM total and motor scores (p = 0.002, mean difference: 2.1, CI₉₅: 0.64, 3.7) and FIM self-care (p = 0.01, mean difference: 1.7, CI₉₅: 0.41, 3) in favor of SG at 3 days. Between-group differences were found for FIM self-care (p = 0.021, mean difference: 1.2, CI₉₅: 0.18, 2.1) in favor of SG at 7 days. FIM total and motor scores (p < 0.001), FIM self-care (p = 0.027) and transfer-locomotion (p < 0.001) and HHS (p = 0.032) decreased after surgery followed by improvements in postoperative days (p ≤ 0.001). No differences were found for NRS, EQ. 5D and EQ. 5D-VAS.

Conclusions: WDS produces additional benefits in patients' independence in the first week after THA. Absence of pain aggravation or adverse effects on hip function and quality of life may allow clinicians to recommend WDS to promote discharge with functional independence.

Keywords: Arthroplasty replacement hip; Early ambulation; Functional independence; Rehabilitation.