Use of aids during the first three months after total hip replacement.

The supply and use of aids following total hip replacement was monitored to see why therapists supplied aids and how quickly and why patients stopped using them. Postal questionnaires were sent to 163 patients with unilateral or bilateral osteoarthrosis of the hip or rheumatoid arthritis 2, 6 and 10 weeks after discharge from hospital. Patients had 2.2 aids per person on admission and 5.8 aids per person 2 weeks after discharge. They used 2.3 aids per person 10 weeks after discharge. Improvement in the pattern of walking was the main reason for supplying walking aids, safety for providing bath aids, and pain/insufficient range of movement for supplying dressing and toilet aids. The main reason for discarding aids was that patients could manage without them. Disease group, sex and the presence of other orthopaedic or medical problems influenced the use of aids but these differences were not apparent until 6 weeks after discharge.