Long-term patient-reported outcomes after total hip replacement: comparison to the general population

Hip replacement is one of the most common elective procedures performed in the NHS, with patients generally reporting good mid-term outcomes. However, patient-reported long-term outcomes have been less well studied. The aim of this study was to explore the extent of variation in long-term patient reported outcomes after total hip replacement (THR), and to compare outcomes to a control population without THR. All patients who had undergone primary THR at one centre 12-16 years ago and who had previously completed an Oxford hip score (OHS) 5-8 years post-operatively were invited to complete a postal OHS. Participants in the control group who had not undergone hip or knee replacement also completed an OHS. The Oxford hip score (OHS) was completed by 407 THR patients and 927 controls. The median score of 18 for the THR patients was significantly worse than the median score of 12 for the control group (p <0.001). Similar results were found when comparisons were stratified by age. There was considerable variation in change in OHS from 5-8 years to 12-16 years post-operatively, although a significant worsening in outcome was found only in patients over 80 years old. Patients continue to report good functional outcomes at 12-16 years after THR, although function is signficantly worse than the general population who have not undergone THR.