High independence level in functional activities reduces hospital stay after total hip arthroplasty regardless of pain intensity.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between independence level in functional activities and pain, and length of hospital stay in the early postoperative period in patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA).

METHODS

The study was performed over 26 end stage hip arthritis patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hacettepe University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, between January 2000 and July 2003 for THA and operated with the same surgical technique by the same surgeon. All patients were mobilized in the first postoperative day and a standard rehabilitation protocol was applied to all patients. The independence level in functional activities of the cases was assessed with Iowa Level of Assistance Scale (ILAS). Iowa Ambulation Speed Scale (IASS) was used to evaluate the speed of ambulation in the early postoperative period. Pain was assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS).

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant relation between pain intensity and independence level in functional activities on the second and sixth postoperative days (p>0,05), but independence level scores in functional activities on the second and sixth days were correlated with hospital stay length (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that in patients with THA, pain does not affect the independence level in functional activities in the early postoperative period. In the same period as the independence level improves, the hospital stay length decreases. This is an important factor that may reduce both the hospital costs and the possible complications due to prolonged hospital stay.