Factors Associated With Life-Space Mobility After Total Hip Arthroplasty in Females With Osteoarthritis: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND

Life-space mobility is defined as the spatial area traversed by an individual in daily life, extending from bedroom to locations beyond the individual's hometown, considering distance, frequency, and required assistance. The Life-Space Assessment (LSA) is used to evaluate life-space mobility. It has been reported that the LSA score after total hip arthroplasty (THA) shows an improvement relative to the preoperative score in patients with hip osteoarthritis. Symptoms and walking function also improve after THA. However, the association between these improvements and an increase in the LSA score after THA remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with an increase in the LSA score after THA in females with hip osteoarthritis.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study involved females planning to undergo primary and unilateral THA for hip osteoarthritis. The LSA score, subjective hip symptoms and function (assessed using the modified Harris hip score), and walking speed were assessed preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. Factors associated with the postoperative change in the LSA score were investigated using multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 120 participants were included. Improvement in walking speed (β = 0.19, = 0.011) was significantly associated with the postoperative increase in the LSA score. The preoperative LSA score (β = -0.67, < 0.001), age (β = -0.17, = 0.011), and contralateral hip osteoarthritis (β = -0.15, = 0.017) were also associated with the change in the LSA score.

CONCLUSIONS

The recovery of maximal walking speed, preoperative life-space mobility, age, and contralateral hip osteoarthritis influenced postoperative expansion of life-space mobility. Improved walking speed may serve as a key factor contributing to the expansion of life-space mobility following THA.