Factors Related to Mobilization on the First Day after Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract

Purpose：The purpose of this study was to identify the determinants of walking ability on the first day after total hip arthroplasty(THA). Methods：We conducted a retrospective study of 78 joints that had undergone primary hemilateral side THA. We calculated the percentage of patients who successfully walked on the first day after THA and then performed a multiple logistic regression analysis, with walking condition on the first day after THA as the dependent variable and age, sex, body mass index, preoperative JOA score, intraoperative blood loss, and difference between preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin levels as independent variables. Result：Fifty-eight percent of the subjects started walking on the first day after surgery, with orthostatic hypotension listed as the most common reason for difficulty in walking. The multiple regression analysis revealed that intraoperative blood loss was significantly associated with walking ability on the first day after THA(p ＜ 0.05). Conclusion：Walking ability on the first day after THA was more dependent on intraoperative blood loss than physical characteristics or preoperative hip function. Results of this study suggest that the amount of intraoperative blood loss is an important factor in determining the safety of early mobilization in THA patients.