Low Grip Strength Associated with Clinical Outcomes after Total Hip Arthroplasty - A Prospective Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Geriatric Medicine
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Grip strength (GS) is a key indicator of overall muscle strength and health.
• Preoperative assessment of patient factors is crucial for optimizing surgical outcomes in total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between preoperative low grip strength (GS) and clinical outcomes following total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Main Methods:

• A prospective case-control study involving 231 primary THA patients.
• Patients were divided into low GS (<26 kg men, <16 kg women) and normal GS cohorts.
• Clinical outcomes, including Harris hip score (HHS) and Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), were assessed preoperatively and up to 2 years postoperatively.

Main Results:

• 40.6% of patients had low GS pre-THA, associated with female sex, older age, lower BMI, and higher ASA scores.
• Low GS patients experienced significantly higher rates of complications (pressure sores, cardiac, respiratory, UTI, stroke, DVT), longer hospital stays, and increased readmissions.
• Significant negative correlation found between GS and HHS (r=-0.673, P=0.002), and positive correlation with SF-12 (r=0.645, P=0.001).

Conclusions:

• Preoperative low grip strength is a significant predictor of adverse outcomes and complications after THA.
• Incorporating GS assessment into preoperative evaluations can help identify at-risk individuals.
• Optimizing treatment for high-risk patients identified through GS screening may improve overall THA outcomes.