Few surgical techniques to reconstruct the abductor mechanism of the hip have been reported, with outcomes reported only from case reports and small case series from the centres that described the techniques. As in many of our revision THA patients the gluteus maximus was affected by previous repeat posterior approaches, we opted to reconstruct the abductor mechanism using a vastus lateralis to gluteus medius transfer. We report the results of such reconstructions in seven patients, mean age 66 (range, 53–77), five females, presenting with severe abductor deficiency (MRC grade 1–2). Five patients had previous revision THA, two with a proximal femoral replacement, one patient had a primary THA after a failed malunited trochanteric fracture, and one patient had a native hip with idiopathic fatty infiltration of glutei of >90%. All patients had instrumented gait analysis, and surface electromyography (EMG) of the glutei, TFL, and vastus muscles simultaneously before surgery and at each post-op follow-up. Postoperatively, patients were allowed to weight bear as tolerated and were requested to wear an abduction brace for the first six weeks after surgery to protect the transfer. All patients improved after surgery and reached an abductor power of 3 or more. All patients walked without support six months after surgery and were satisfied with the result. Abductor function continued to improve beyond one year of follow-up, and some patients reached an abductor power of 5. EMG demonstrated that the transferred vastus lateralis started firing synchronously with gluteus medius after three months post-surgery, suggesting adaptation to its new function. No knee extension weakness was recorded. One patient complained of lateral thigh numbness and was dissatisfied with the cosmetic look of her thigh after surgery. Our preliminary results are encouraging and comparable with those achieved by the originators of the technique.
The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate if the 24-hour activity profile (i.e. waking activities and sleep) objectively measured using wrist-worn accelerometry of patients scheduled for total hip arthroplasty (THA) improves postoperatively. A total of 51 THA patients with a mean age of 64 years (24 to 87) were recruited from a single public hospital. All patients underwent THA using the same surgical approach with the same prosthesis type. The 24-hour activity profiles were captured using wrist-worn accelerometers preoperatively and at 2, 6, 12, and 26 weeks postoperatively. Patient-reported outcomes (Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS)) were collected at all timepoints except two weeks postoperatively. Accelerometry data were used to quantify the intensity (sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous activities) and frequency (bouts) of activity during the day and sleep efficiency. The analysis investigated changes with time and differences between Charnley class.Aims
Patients and Methods
Subjective outcomes used in THA show outstanding improvements in patient-reported outcomes. However, recent evidence suggests that there may be a disconnect between patient-reported and objectively measured function. The aim of this study was to investigate if physical activity and sleep patterns change from pre- to six months post primary THA. 54 patients scheduled for THA were recruited. Patients were given a wrist-worn accelerometer (GeneActiv, UK) to wear continuously for one week pre-operatively and six weeks, three months and six months post-operatively. The device was also fitted to the patient immediately following surgery to capture data for the first two post-operative weeks. The following parameters were calculated: (1) sleep efficiency; (2) the amount of time (and length of each bout and fragmentation of the activity) spent in sedentary activity; and (3) time spent in light, moderate and vigorous physical activity. Sedentary activities showed no change in the number, duration or fragmentation (p= 0.382, 0.288, 0.382, respectively). Patients were sedentary for 5–6 bouts/day with each bout lasting 50–76 minutes/day. A significant main effect was identified for time spent in light intensity activities (p=0.049). Prior to surgery, patients spent 201 minutes/day in light intensity activity. This decreased significantly to 133 minutes/day (p=0.025) in the first two postoperative weeks before returning close to pre-operative levels (192 minutes/day) at six weeks (p=0.025). No further changes were observed in light intensity activities. A significant main effect was identified for time spent in moderate intensity activities (p=0.003). Prior to surgery, patients spent 45 minutes/day in moderate intensity activities. This dropped to 18 minutes/day in the first two postoperative weeks (p=0.190). By three months this had increased to 66 minutes/day (p=0.049). No further changes were seen. There were no significant differences in time spent in vigorous intensity activities (p=0.244). Patients spent <1minute/day in vigorous intensity activities. Sleep efficiency did not change significantly from pre- (82%) to six months post-operative (75%) (p=0.067) − 85% is typically considered good sleep efficiency. Patients discharged to a regional hospital had significantly poorer sleep efficiency than those discharged home (mean difference=14%, p=<0.001) or to a rehabilitation centre (mean difference=15%, p=0.001). This patient cohort didn't demonstrate an overall improvement in objectively measured physical activity patterns from pre- to six months post-operative. Sleep efficiency, did not improve and remained sub-optimal.
