Quality of life after several treatments for osteoarthritis of the hip.

The purpose of this study was to examine quality of life (QOL) after a rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO), primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), or conservative treatment (Conservative). A series of 147 patients with osteoarthritis of the hip were grouped according to treatment into the RAO group ( n = 62), THA group ( n = 40), and Conservative group ( n = 45) (treated with medication and rehabilitation alone). The mean age of the RAO group was 40 years, the THA group 54 years, and the Conservative group 50 years. The mean follow-up periods were 3.6, 3.9, and 3.3 years, respectively. All patients were female. As a control group 609 volunteers participating in a town mass screening program were recruited. QOL was determined using the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Each area of QOL was evaluated separately in all of the treatment groups at less than 1 year after therapy, at more than 1 year but less than 5 years, and at more than 5 years. With regard to QOL at less than 1 year after therapy, the Conservative group had significantly higher scores for energy, pain, and emotional reaction than the Control group. With regard to physical mobility, all of the treatment groups showed significantly higher scores than the Control group. With regard to QOL at more than 1 year but less than 5 years, the RAO and THA groups showed significantly higher scores than the Control group regarding physical mobility. Regarding pain, the RAO and Conservative groups showed significantly higher scores than the Control group. With regard to QOL at more than 5 years, for physical mobility all of the treatment groups showed significantly higher scores than the Control group. For pain the RAO group showed significantly higher scores than the Control group. NHP is a useful means for evaluating QOL in patients treated for osteoarthritis of the hip.