Background: One of the most difficult complications of total hip arthroplasty is an infection in the area of the implant with an incidence of 0.5% to 2.5% resulting in the most severe situation in prosthesis removal.
Objective: The aim of the study was to assess postural stability and functional disorders in patients after hip prosthesis removal.
Methods: A group of 15 patients after hip prosthesis removal was compared to a control group of 15 healthy persons who were age-matched without any symptoms of degenerative disorders in the lower spine and lower extremities. The static balance test was conducted on a bi-modular stabilometric platform, registering the movement of the centre of foot pressure. The functional state of the patients was assessed on the basis of the Harris Hip Score (HHS).
Results: Patients had poor functional result (HSS mean 62.29 ± 12.92 points). Obtained results of postural stability of patients showed huge difficulties maintaining stability and showed statistically significant differences in a majority of the analysed parameters.
Conclusions: Several stability parameters showed significantly worse results in patients after hip prosthesis removal. Special attention should be paid and focused physiotherapy should be undertaken for patients with a stability disorder and functional status to prevent falls and improve functioning.
Keywords: Girdlestone procedure; Postural stability; hanging hip; hip.