FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES OF TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY IN BONY ANKYLOSIS OF THE HIP

Aim of the study is to assess changes in quality of life, walking speed, periarticular muscle performance and basic functional activity in patients with bony ankylosis of the hip during the 12 months after total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed with the proposed technique compared with the conventional technique.

Material and methods. Between 2013 and 2024, 240 patients with stage III–IV hip ankylosis were treated at the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Traumatology and Orthopedics. The main group comprised 130 (54%) patients operated on using the proposed technique, and the control group 110 (46%) patients operated on using conventional methods. Detailed functional assessment was performed on all patients using the EQ-5D questionnaire with a visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), the 10-metre walk test, a 15-second step test and the Barthel Index before surgery, at discharge, and at 3, 6 and 12 months.

Results. At baseline the groups were comparable in quality of life (EQ-VAS 59.3 ± 8.0 vs 57.0 ± 9.2; p = 0.47) and walking speed (0.51 ± 0.11 vs 0.44 ± 0.13 m/s; p = 0.12). At 12 months EQ-VAS was 78.5 ± 10.1 in the main group and 67.5 ± 9.2 in the control group (p = 0.004), walking speed was 1.39 ± 0.44 vs 1.05 ± 0.40 m/s (p = 0.04), and the Barthel Index was 85.2 vs 75.0 points. The step test showed faster recovery of operated-limb muscle performance in the main group from postoperative day 15.

Conclusion. THA significantly improves quality of life, walking speed and independence in daily living in patients with bony ankylosis of the hip. With the proposed technique, outcomes at 6–12 months were significantly better than with the conventional technique.