SOUTHAMPTON, England, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Researchers in England found long-term improvements in physical functioning for osteoarthritis patients after total hip replacements.
Cyrus Cooper and Janet Cushnaghan of the University of Southampton examined and interviewed 282 patients who had osteoarthritis and had been placed on the waiting list for a hip replacement between 1993 and 1995 as well as 295 matched controls from the general population. Between 2001 and 2004, the patients completed self-administered questionnaires.
The results of the study showed patients who were waiting for a hip replacement at the start of the study had markedly worse physical functioning than the controls but showed only small differences in vitality and mental health. At the follow-up, the physical functioning of the osteoarthritis patients had improved, but that of the controls had deteriorated. Those with more severe osteoarthritis showed the most improvement in physical functioning.
The researchers said the study, published in the December issues of Arthritis Care & Research, was an observational investigation as opposed to a randomized-controlled trial, but this weakness was offset by the fact that the study had a long follow-up interval -- eight years -- and a relatively large number of patients and controls.
