Short hospital stay augmented with education and home-based rehabilitation improves function and quality of life after hip replacement: randomized study of 50 patients with 6 months of follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Because of current cost restrictions, we studied the effect of a shorter hospital stay on function, pain and quality of life (QOL) after total hip replacement (THR).


METHODS
50 patients from two hospitals were randomized into a study group (SG) of 27 patients receiving preoperative and postoperative education programs, as well as home visits from an outpatient team, and a control group (CG) of 23 patients receiving "conventional" rehabilitation often augmented by a stay at a rehabilitation center.


RESULTS
Mean hospital stay was shorter for the SG than for the CG (6.4 days and 10 days, respectively; p < 0.001). During the 6-month study period, there were 9 non-fatal complications in the SG and 12 in the CG (p = 0.3). The difference in Oxford Hip Score between the groups was not statistically significant before the operation, but was better for the SG at 2 months (p = 0.03) and this difference remained more or less constant throughout the study. The overall score from the Nottingham Health Profile indicated a better QOL in the SG.


CONCLUSIONS
Our preoperative education program, followed by postoperative home-based rehabilitation, appears to be safer and more effective in improving function and QOL after THR than conventional treatment.
Siggeirsdottir
Kristin
K
Icelandic Heart Association. Kristin@hjarta.is
Olafsson
Orn
O
Jonsson
Halldor
H
Iwarsson
Susanne
S
Gudnason
Vilmundur
V
Jonsson
Brynjolfur Y
BY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017046:Cost Savings; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers