Abstract
Introduction
The objective of our study was to determine the extent to which the quality of the biomechanical reconstruction when performing hip replacement influences gait performances. We aimed to answer the following questions: 1) Does the quality of restoration of hip biomechanics after conventional THR influence gait outcomes? (question 1), and 2) Is HR more beneficial to gait outcomes when compared with THR? (question 2).
Methods
we retrospectively reviewed 52 satisfied unilateral prosthetic hip patients (40 THRs and 12 HRs) who undertook objective gait assessment at a mean follow-up of 14 months. The quality of the prosthetic hip biomechanical restoration was assessed on standing pelvic radiograph by comparison to the healthy contralateral hip.
Results
We were unable to detect any statistically significant correlation between the radiographical parameters and the gait data, for THR patients. In stress conditions (inclination or declination of the ramp), the gait was more symmetric in the HR group, compared to the THR group.
Discussion/Conclusions
We found that slight variations in the quality of the hip biomechanical restoration had little effect on gait outcomes of THR patients, and HR generated a more physiological gait under stress conditions than well-functioning THR.
