Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Physical therapy(PT) is an integral component in the management of musculoskeletal conditions. On the other hand, there have been few reports exclusively dedicated to studying PT interventions on the same day of total hip arthroplasty(THA). In this study, we investigate the role of rehabilitation in the early postoperative period on length of stay (LOS), total medical cost, and physical recovery following total hip arthroplasty.
METHODS
A prospective cohort study was carried out 104 consecutive patients who underwent 107 primary THA performed by two surgeons. Data were gathered on all patients who underwent operative management from June2016 to June 2017. Institutional review board approval was obtained before performing this study. Patient demographic, physical, and clinical dates were collected for all patients, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis, Japan Orthopedic Association (JOA) hip score, Japanese Orthopedic Association Hip-Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ) score, 3min walk test, and Timed up and go (TUG) test. The patient population consisted of 5men and 99women, with an average age of 66.0 years (range, 50–84 years). There were no statistically significant differences between patients who did and did not receive PT with regard to demographic, medical, and surgical data, including gender, age, BMI, JOA hip score, JHEQ score, preoperative 3min walk test, preoperative TUG test(Table 1). All patients underwent direct anterior approach THA through navigation system. Postoperative day (POD) 0 was defined as the same day of surgery. There were no standardized criteria by which patients were selected for participation in rehabilitation with physical therapists. Patient selection for POD 0 rehabilitation was based on the end of surgery time. For instance, when the end of surgery time was in the forenoon, the patients were received POD 0 PT. In contrast, patients who ended operation in the afternoon were classified POD 1 PT. Rehabilitation protocol was adjusted based on surgical approach, and all patients were weight bearing as tolerated. TUG test and 3min walk test was done by a physiotherapist on the seventh day postoperatively.
RESULTS
Patients who received PT on POD 0 were compared with patients who received PT on POD 1. (Table2) Using the operative start time to determine LOS, patients who received therapy on POD 0 stayed an average of 14.1±4.8 days, and those who received therapy on POD 1 stayed an average of 19.2±9.1 days. The LOS was statistically significantly different between groups (P = .01). In terms of physical recovery, the TUG test received therapy on POD 0 was taken an average of 14.0±6.0 seconds, and the TUG test received therapy on POD 1 was an average of 17.6±9.4 seconds. (P=.04) Furthermore, Total cost on POD0. Day 0 patients had a mean cost of ¥1,970,000±21,000 and Day 1 had a mean cost of 2,190,000±49,600, which remained significance difference(P=.01)
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that early rehabilitation and patient mobilization on the date of surgery is important to shorten length of hospital stay, decrease total medical cost and to achieve faster physical recovery.
