Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Individualized Stem-positioning in Calcar-guided Short-stem Total Hip Arthroplasty
Published on: February 27, 2018
Return to Driving After Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty
Yehuda A Masturov1, William B Hogan2, Steven Regal2
1Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center, Philadelphia.
Background:
Traditional guidance after posterior-approach total hip arthroplasty (THA) recommends return to driving at 6-8 weeks. Muscle-sparing direct anterior THA (A-THA) may enable earlier recovery. Our objective was to assess brake reaction time (BRT) before and after right and left A-THA.
Materials And Methods:
This is a prospective cohort study of 32 patients who underwent an A-THA (21 right, 11 left). BRTs were recorded using Vericom's stationary reaction timer and response software at the patient's last preoperative visit and at 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. Pain was assessed during each visit using the visual analog scale (VAS); an Oxford Hip Score (OHS) was filled out at the preoperative and 6-week visits.
Results:
For patients undergoing right A-THA, mean BRT improved from 0.67 seconds (s) (±0.15) preoperatively to 0.60s (±0.05) at 2 weeks (P = .01) and 0.58s (±0.06) at 6 weeks (P = .03). Eighteen of 21 (85.7%) reached or surpassed baseline by 2 weeks. OHS improved from 36 to 19, and VAS improved from 2.9 to 0.24. Right-foot brakers undergoing left A-THA exhibited no significant BRT change: 0.63s (±0.13) preoperatively; 0.60s (±0.11) at 2 weeks, P = .53; and 0.58s (±0.07) at 6 weeks, P = .31. OHS improved from 37 to 20, and VAS did not change significantly.
Conclusion:
Our objective data support consideration of earlier return to driving after A-THA when patients are off narcotics and meet local/insurer requirements.
Related Concept Videos
Venous Return
What is Venous Return?
Venous return refers to the rate at which blood flows back to the heart from the body's peripheral veins. It's an integral part of the circulatory system...
Energy to Drive Translocation
Generally, polypeptides are unfolded by two distinct...
M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...
Muscles of the Anterior Neck
Total Voids in Concrete
Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation

