Factors contributing to rehabilitation outcomes following hip arthroplasty

Background: Hip arthroplasty (HA) is a common surgical procedure with estimated 230 000 procedures performed in the USA in 2008. Projections indicate that the number of procedures will increase to 572 000 by 2030, thus it is important for rehabilitation professionals involved in the care of these individuals to recognize factors that may influence outcomes a priori. Objectives: The objective of this manuscript is to review variables that influence patient outcomes following HA. All relevant literature will be reviewed for interpretation by the healthcare provider to design optimal plans of care and for determining an accurate patient prognosis. Major findings: Evidence suggests that age, gender, body mass index, depression, and smoking status may influence outcomes. Additionally, pre-operative functional ability, type of pain medication, and the use of a clinical pathway appear to influence post-operative outcomes. Further research is needed to determine the effect of specific interventions commonly employed in the rehabilitation setting. Conclusions: Evidence suggests that no one factor may determine an individual’s prognosis following HA. Rather, an individual’s ability to achieve outcomes must be viewed from a multifactorial perspective that takes into account both intrinsic and extrinsic variables.