Comparison of two different rehabilitation programmes for thrust plate prosthesis: a randomized controlled study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Traditional total hip arthroplasty (THA) protocols delay weight bearing to prevent prosthesis loosening, hindering patient rehabilitation.
• The thrust plate prosthesis (TPP) offers force transfer characteristics similar to a natural hip, potentially allowing for earlier weight bearing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of early partial versus early full weight bearing after TPP implantation.
• To compare rehabilitation outcomes between patients undergoing accelerated rehabilitation with early partial or full weight bearing.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled study involving 51 patients (60 hips) who received TPP.
• Patients were randomly assigned to either early partial weight bearing (Group 1) or early full weight bearing (Group 2) within an accelerated rehabilitation program.
• Clinical and radiological assessments were performed preoperatively, at three months, and one year post-surgery.

Main Results:

• The early full weight bearing group (Group 2) demonstrated earlier transfer activities, greater walking distance at discharge, and shorter hospital stays.
• At three months, Group 2 showed significant improvements in Harris Hip Score, muscle strength, 6-minute walk test, and reduced crutch use compared to Group 1.
• No signs of prosthesis loosening were observed in either group at the one-year follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Early weight bearing, including full weight bearing, is feasible and beneficial for patients receiving TPP.
• Accelerated rehabilitation programs with early weight bearing can lead to earlier achievement of rehabilitation goals after TPP.