Survey of patient satisfaction after total arthroplasty of the hip

• Published in: International orthopaedics Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 23 - 30
• Main Authors: PACAULT-LEGENDRE, V, COURPIED, J. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.03.1999; Springer-Verlag
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; Australia; Biological and medical sciences; Data Collection; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Original Paper; Orthopedic surgery; Pain Measurement; Patient Satisfaction - statistics & numerical data; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Sex Factors; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Australia; Human; Evaluation; Questionnaire; Methodology; Prosthesis; Satisfaction; Hip; Quality of life; Orthopedic surgery; Treatment; Total; Qualitative analysis; Technique
• ISSN: 0341-2695; 1432-5195
• DOI: 10.1007/s002640050297

We have carried out a prospective study based on a series of interviews and written questionnaires completed by 45 patients who underwent surgery, in an effort to evaluate subjective patient satisfaction while recovering from total hip arthroplasty. These patients all had operation for primary osteoarthrosis and none had previously experienced orthopaedic procedures or psychiatric pathology. Our study demonstrated that using standard quality-of-life questionnaires to evaluate patient's subjective assessments is difficult, if not impossible. It also established the need to combine questionnaires and open-ended interviews in order to reveal subjective elements that should be taken into consideration by the surgeon before deciding upon the need to operate. The analysis of the data collected in this study highlights the fact that 50% of the patients express feelings of frustration during a three month-long period following the operation, in spite of their experiencing actual improvements of the operated hip. This phase of temporary frustration winds down easily but it is only a year after undergoing arthroplasty that some patients will enjoy all the subjective benefits of the operation.