REVIEWS   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2001 April;52(2):93-100

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

An evaluation of patients with hip replacement

Dutto E., Ferrero M., Massè A.

The evolution of hip replacement surgery has led to the need to give the orthopedic surgeon the tools to control the results obtained. In this paper we aim to analyse the different methods presented in the literature. We have analysed the numerical and descriptive scores used to evaluate clinical and instrumental aspects, and also the questionnaires focused on the patient's quality of life. Hip scores represent a valid method for analysis, but authors examine different elements to evaluate the state of the hip and then use different processes to quantify the results; the greatest problem is therefore the difficulty of establishing the real effective parameters. We have tried to single out the elements that are essential for a proper analysis and have extrapolated them from those reported in the literature. Pain, range of movement and functional activity are key factors for evaluating results; to ensure a fuller picture these should be flanked by self-compiled questionnaires on the patient's quality of life which represent a broad method of study, a useful system of supervision and a source of data with which to calculate the cost-benefit ratio. These questionnaires should be standardised and simplified to ensure better interpretation of multifactorial data. The discrepancy between clinical and instrumental results underlines the importance of X-ray as a particularly useful element, together with a direct evaluation of pain and range of movement which provide an accurate definition of the functional results.