Pre-and Post-Operative Gait Analyss of Unilateral Hip Osteoarthritic Patients

We studied 6 unilateral osteoarthritic hip patients before and after total hip replacement, and compared them, using a large floor reaction force plate. The average age of patients was 56.4 years at operation. The mean follow-up was 13.8 months after the last T. H. R.. The “weighing-off” effect ratio, indicating smooth ambulation of the bodies center of gravity, increased (p=0.075) after T. H. R. in comparison with before surgery. The stance phase duration ratio increased (p=0.10), but maximal walking speed did not increase after T. H. R. in comparison with before surgery. This improvement can be quantified, documented, and followed by using a system of gait evaluation.