Impact of total hip replacement on quality of life

This retrospective, descriptive study was designed to investigate the impact of total hip replacement (THR) on the quality of life for those persons who have suffered from osteoarthritis of the hip. Forty six subjects from a population of clients of eight orthopaedic surgeons in a southeastern state agreed to participate in the study. Subjects were predominantly white, married females with varied age. The impact of having a THR was measured by the participant's perception of change in four areas: physiologic function, self-concept, role function, and interdependence. A modified version of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS) was used to measure change. The results showed positive change in all four variables and in overall satisfaction with having a THR.