Comparison of health-related quality of life among patients before and one month after total hip arthroplasty in a selected hospital in Sri Lanka
By: M. H. Hasintha and C. Pathmanathan
Abstract
Background & Aim: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most widely performed orthopaedic surgeries to alleviate pain and restore full range of motion. This study aims to determine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and the percentage of patients who received physiotherapy before and one month after total hip arthroplasty at the National Hospital in Sri Lanka.
Methods: A total of 52 patients awaiting THA for advanced hip osteoarthritis or avascular necrosis were recruited through convenience sampling at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. This prospective observational short follow-up study assessed changes in HRQOL before and one month after surgery using the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36) and Modified Harris Hip Score (MHHS). Sociodemographic and clinical data, including the percentage of patients who received physiotherapy, were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0.
Results: The mean age (SD) of participants was 59.00 years (5.47). General health, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning and mental health subscales except physical functioning, role limitation due to physical and emotional functioning of the SF-36 were significantly improved following the surgery. Pain and activities of daily living subscales except gait of MHHS were significantly improved following the surgery. The total MHHS score was poor in both pre- and post-operative periods, but there was a significant improvement in the post-operative group.
Conclusions & Recommendations: Overall HRQOL improved in most of the assessed aspects over a short period. None of the patients received physiotherapy interventions before surgery; however, all received physiotherapy following the surgery. Necessary steps to introduce pre-operative physiotherapy and monitor post-operative physiotherapy to improve HRQOL are suggested.
Methods: A total of 52 patients awaiting THA for advanced hip osteoarthritis or avascular necrosis were recruited through convenience sampling at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. This prospective observational short follow-up study assessed changes in HRQOL before and one month after surgery using the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36) and Modified Harris Hip Score (MHHS). Sociodemographic and clinical data, including the percentage of patients who received physiotherapy, were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0.
Results: The mean age (SD) of participants was 59.00 years (5.47). General health, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning and mental health subscales except physical functioning, role limitation due to physical and emotional functioning of the SF-36 were significantly improved following the surgery. Pain and activities of daily living subscales except gait of MHHS were significantly improved following the surgery. The total MHHS score was poor in both pre- and post-operative periods, but there was a significant improvement in the post-operative group.
Conclusions & Recommendations: Overall HRQOL improved in most of the assessed aspects over a short period. None of the patients received physiotherapy interventions before surgery; however, all received physiotherapy following the surgery. Necessary steps to introduce pre-operative physiotherapy and monitor post-operative physiotherapy to improve HRQOL are suggested.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4038/sljprs.v1i2.13 | Journal eISSN: 3084-8822
Language: English
Page range: 85 - 94
Published on: Aug 5, 2025
Published by: University of Colombo
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
© 2025 M. H. Hasintha, C. Pathmanathan, published by University of Colombo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License.