OBJECTIVETo explore clinical effects of comprehensive rehabilitation therapy for function restore of hip joint after minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty.

METHODSFrom March 2006 to February 2008, 100 patients were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group. Fifty patients in the treatment group, including 21 males and 29 females, ranging in age from 56 to 78 years, with an average of (67.2 +/- 11.0) years. Fifty patients in the control group, including 26 males and 24 females, ranging in age from 54 to 79 years, with an average of (65.5 +/- 11.5) years. The course of disease of the two groups were 10 to 15 years. The comprehensive rehabilitations such as joint range of motion, the activities of daily living and restoring muscle strength were performed step-by-step in the treatment group under the guidance of the therapist at the 2nd day after hip arthroplasty. Above rehabilitations were not performed in the control group. The postoperative functional recovery of hip joint, the Harris scores and X-ray were analyzed and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed and the duration averaged 13 months (12 to 14 months). The therapeutic effects of the two groups had statistical differences, Zc =12.72, P<0.001. In the treatment group, the average Harris score was (94.50 +/- 29.87), 32 patients got an excellent result, 12 good, 4 poor and 2 bad. While in the control group, above data were (63.50 +/- 19.97), 12, 15, 7 and 16 respectively. The therapeutic effects of treatment group were better than those of control group. The X-ray showed that there were no hip prosthesis loosening, femoral neck fractures and other complications.

CONCLUSIONThe early comprehensive rehabilitation after minimally invasive total hip replacement is the key to decrease postoperative complications and to decide the success or failure of surgery.