ORIGINAL ARTICLE   Free access

Minerva Orthopedics 2025 February;76(1):96-105

DOI: 10.23736/S2784-8469.24.04521-8

Copyright © 2024 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Influence of hip arthroplasty on sarcopenia and quality of life: a prospective cohort study

Elisabetta FERRARO ¹, Fabio PENNA ², Antonio REITANO ³, Alessandro de SIRE ^{4, 5, 6} ✉, Nicoletta FILIGHEDDU ^{7, 8}, Dario CALAFIORE ⁹, Valerio AMMENDOLIA ⁴, Kamal MEZIAN ¹⁰, Jorge VILLAFANE ^{11, 12}, Giuseppina CARETTI ¹³, Massimiliano LEIGHEB ¹⁴

¹ Cell and Developmental Biology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; ² Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; ³ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Modena University Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio-Emilia, Modena, Italy; ⁴ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy; ⁵ Research Center on Musculoskeletal Health, MusculoSkeletalHealth@UMG, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy; ⁶ Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic; ⁷ Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy; ⁸ Interuniversity Institute of Myology, Perugia, Italy; ⁹ Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Neurosciences, ASST Carlo Poma, Mantua, Italy; ¹⁰ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic; ¹¹ Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Sport Sciences, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain; ¹² Musculoskeletal Pain and Motor Control Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain; ¹³ Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; ¹⁴ Surgical Department, San Gaudenzio Clinic, Monza Polyclinic Group, Novara, Italy

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is a progressive degenerative disorder of the musculoskeletal system, characterized by loss of muscle mass, strength and physical function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact hip arthroplasty on sarcopenia and Quality of Life (QoL). Additionally, the influence of BMI, age, comorbid diseases, type of intervention, sex, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class on QoL related to sarcopenia was also analyzed.
METHODS: In this cohort prospective study, sarcopenia was assessed by handgrip strength and by total body DEXA; sarcopenia related QoL was assessed using the SarQoL questionnaire at the admission (SQ1) and after 1 year (SQ2).
RESULTS: Sixty-four patients undergoing hip replacement for femoral fracture or osteoarthritis were prospectively observed. One year after surgery patients with hip osteoarthritis showed an increase (P<0.05) in SarQoL score, whereas patients with femoral fracture did not. Patients with total hip arthroplasty reported a better SQ2 than patients with emi-arthroplasty. Grip strength, SQ1 and Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI) were positively associated with SQ2, while age revealed a negative association.
CONCLUSIONS: SarQoL and SMI can be considered as positive predictive factors of sarcopenia related QoL at one year after hip replacement, while BMI and age as negative predictors. The muscular condition compromised by hip osteoarthritis can be improved by arthroplasty with a consequent increase in the QoL related to sarcopenia.

KEY WORDS: Sarcopenia; Quality of life; Hip replacement arthroplasty; Aged; Osteoarthritis