Article

Although total hip arthroplasty (THA) is known to be a successful surgical
procedure to alleviate hip pain and to improve health-related quality of life,
these outcome measures in THA patients do not reach those of the general
population. As a result, several investigators have assessed THA patients' gait
mechanics, but most of them have ignored adjacent joints, as well as the effect
that THA may have on the non-operated limb. The purpose of this investigation was
to determine the effect of THA on the pelvis, hip, knee and ankle joint
kinematics, as well as the hip, knee and ankle kinetics of both the operated and
non-operated limbs during walking. These data were recorded for 20 patients
having undergone unilateral THA and 20 healthy, matched control participants.
Results revealed that the gait mechanics of THA patients did not return to normal
10.6 months, on average (+/-2.6 mo), following surgery. THA patients walked with
lower operated-hip abduction moments, sagittal-plane range of motion, as well as
lower generated and absorbed power, that may be consequential to pain-avoidance
strategies adopted pre-operatively or to apprehensions associated with their new
prosthesis. They also displayed various kinematic adaptations at the ankle joint
of the operated limb and at the non-operated hip joint that may be leaving them
at risk of developing other joint diseases. Further investigation is needed to
confirm the reasons why THA patients' gait mechanics do not return to normal
following surgery to develop better surgical techniques and/or rehabilitation
programs.
CI - Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS