Changes in health status of elderly patients following hip replacement surgery

This study investigated changes in health status following a total hip replacement among a convenience sample of 22 male and 23 female patients, all of whom had been suffering from hip dysfunction and associated arthritic pain and impaired mobility. Subjects were pretested in an orthopedic pre-admission clinic with the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales questionnaire and were posttested with the same instrument 3 1/2 months after the initial contact and subsequent to hip replacement surgery. Analysis of pretest and posttest mean differences showed significant improvement in scores for pain and physical activity. No significant changes were demonstrated in the psychological and social domains of health status.