Immediate or late weight bearing after uncemented total hip arthroplasty: a study of functional recovery

Late weight bearing on the operated leg after uncemented total hip arthroplasty may slow the patient's rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to find out whether 12 weeks of non-weight-bearing gait had any influence on passive hip extension, muscle strength, gait velocity, pain, and walking pattern during the first 24 postoperative weeks. There were no significant differences in results 24 weeks after surgery between 10 patients with late weight bearing and 11 patients with immediate weight bearing. As expected, however, there was a difference in muscle strength between the operated and the nonoperated leg. This study shows no evidence that late weight bearing after uncemented total hip arthroplasty implies any serious adverse effects on functional recovery after 24 weeks compared with immediate postoperative weight bearing.