Factors that Influence the Ability to Put on Socks Three Weeks after Surgery in Patients with Total Hip Arthroplasty

A Study using a Decision Tree Analysis

Abstract

Objective: The goal of this study was to identify the factors that affect a patient's ability to put on socks three weeks after total hip arthroplasty surgery.

Methods: One hundred fifteen patients with total hip arthroplasty using the posterior approach were enrolled in this study. We investigated gender, age, range of motion (hip flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, and external rotation; knee flexion; thoracic spine flexion; and lumbar spine flexion), and the ability to put on socks in hip-abduction-in-flexion positions. The range of motion was used as the independent variable in a decision tree analysis with the ability to put on socks three weeks after surgery as the dependent variable.

Results: Decision tree analysis revealed that the range of motion (ROM) of hip flexion and external rotation, and thoracic spine flexion were factors affecting the ability to put on socks. In addition, it was found that patients with total hip arthroplasty are more likely to put on socks if hip external rotation ROM and thoracic spine ROM are good even if hip flexion ROM is poor.

Conclusions: Improvement of hip flexion and external rotation ROM, and thoracic spine flexion ROM are important for a patient's ability to put on socks in the early postoperative period following total hip arthroplasty.