title: When is it safe for patients to drive after right total hip arthroplasty?
abstract: Old studies recommend 6weeks post-operative before patients can return to driving safely. This is a prospective study assessing brake reaction time (BRT) after THA. 38 patients underwent a pre-operative, 2, 4 and 6weeks post-operative BRT test. General linear repeated measurement was used. The mean pre-operative reaction time was 0.635±0.160seconds SD and 2-week was 0.576±0.137seconds SD (P=0.029); 33 patients (87%) were able to reach their baseline time by 2weeks. The remaining five patients (13%) reached their baseline at the 4-week post-operative. No differences were found with respect to age, gender, and the use of assistive devices. With new techniques in THA, most of patients return to normal times within the 2-week.
authors.affiliation: Rothman Institute, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Victor H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Rothman Institute, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Alvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.affiliation: Rothman Institute, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orozco
authors.affiliation: Rothman Institute, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.affiliation: Rothman Institute, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Post
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000379:methods*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011930:Reaction Time; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Brake reaction time; Drive; Driving; Outcomes; Total hip arthroplasty; Total hip replacement