Temporospatial parameters of hip replacement patients ten years post-operatively.

While short-term outcome studies of patients following total hip arthroplasty (THA) have shown compromised walking ability, it is often assumed that temporospatial parameters will return to normal levels at long-term follow-up, especially for younger patients. Temporospatial parameters were determined for 149 THA patients selected arbitrarily from routine ten-year post-operative review clinics. Patients were divided into five age groups: 54-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 and over 80 years. The parameters of speed, step length, stride length and cadence were measured. All age groups displayed significantly reduced velocity, step length and stride length compared to an age-matched normal group. There was no difference in most of the temporospatial parameters between the age groups. This study shows that even younger THA patients at long-term follow-up do not regain normal age-matched walking characteristics.