Low Grip Strength As a Predictor of Recovery From Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)

Abstract BACKGROUND: Some patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty(THA), continue to experience pain, limitations of activities of daily living, even when no specific prosthesis-related technical problem or failure can be identified, and mechanical or biologic problems have been ruled out. This study aims to assess whether low grip strength (GS) is predictive for the bad results after THA.METHODS: A prospective case-control study was designed to assess 202 cases of primary THA between Jan 1, 2018, to May 1, 2018, at an urban tertiary care hospital. Patients were placed into two cohorts based on preoperative GS levels. Differences in length of stay (LOS), 90-day postoperative complications, and hospital readmissions were compared. Besides, the correlations between GS and Harris hip score (HHS) and Short Form-12 (SF-12) score were tested. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients (40.6%) had low GS before THA. Patients with low GS were more likely to be female, older, fracture of femoral head or neck as the primary cause, albumin < 3.5 g/dL, and have a lower body mass index (BMI), higher ASA score, increased rates of the pressure sore, blood transfusion, and LOS compared to normal GS (all p<0.05). Besides, differences in 90-day postoperative complications and hospital readmissions and positive correlations between GS and HHS and SF-12 scores were detected (all p<0.05). CONCLUSION: GS can serve as a useful indicator for assessing muscle weakness before primary THA. Clinicians should be encouraged to include GS assessment in their evaluation of patients who planned to undergo THA in order to optimize the treatment of high-risk individuals.