Objectively measured 24-hour activity profiles before and after total hip arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common procedure for hip osteoarthritis.
• Postoperative recovery and activity levels are crucial for patient outcomes.
• Objective measurement of daily activity and sleep patterns can provide insights into recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To objectively measure the 24-hour activity profile of patients before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA).
• To investigate if THA surgery leads to significant improvements in daily activity and sleep efficiency postoperatively.
• To explore the relationship between activity profiles and patient-reported outcomes.

Main Methods:

• 51 THA patients underwent accelerometry measurements preoperatively and at 2, 6, 12, and 26 weeks postoperatively.
• Activity intensity (sedentary, light, moderate, vigorous) and sleep efficiency were quantified.
• Patient-reported outcomes (Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score - HOOS) were collected.

Main Results:

• Patients exhibited prolonged sedentary time and poor sleep efficiency preoperatively, with no significant improvement six months post-THA.
• No significant increases in light, moderate, or vigorous activity levels were observed.
• While patient-reported outcomes improved, objective activity measures and sleep efficiency did not show significant postoperative gains.

Conclusions:

• The 24-hour activity profile of THA patients remains largely unchanged six months post-surgery, characterized by inactivity and poor sleep.
• Objective measures of activity and sleep do not reflect the subjective improvements reported by patients.
• Further research is needed to understand and improve postoperative physical activity and sleep in THA patients.