Patient restrictions following total hip arthroplasty: A national survey.

In this prospective nation-wide web based survey we describe the current practice regarding patient restrictions following total hip arthroplasty. A web-based survey involving 20 items was developed and tested prior to administration. The questionnaire included general information, type of restrictions, specification and duration of restrictions. The target population consisted of all orthopaedic surgeons registered with the Dutch Orthopaedic Association working at one of the 94 orthopaedic departments in the Netherlands. The response rate of the orthopaedic departments was 78% (n=74). The majority of orthopaedic departments use patient restrictions following THA. Restrictions were used with different rates per type of surgical approach: anterior (69%), anterolateral (100%), straight lateral (94%) and posterolateral (93%). The duration of these restrictions is generally six weeks. Patient restrictions following THA are current practice, regardless of the surgical approach.