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Falls in patients after total hip arthroplasty in Japan

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Abstract

Background

There have been few reports on falls in patients who have undergone total hip arthroplasty (THA). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the incidence and circumstances of falls in post-THA patients and to identify the factors associated with falling.

Materials and methods

After excluding comorbidities, osteoarthritis without THA, and patients who had undergone THA within the previous 1 year, 214 patients [11 males, 203 females; mean (SD) age, 66.0 (8.7) years] living independently for at least 1 year after THA were analyzed as available data. Using a self-administered questionnaire, we investigated the number and circumstances of falls in the preceding year, as well as functional outcome and ambulatory ability via the Oxford Hip Score. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing falls in post-THA patients.

Results

The incidence of at least one fall in the past year was 36 %. Falls were most often caused by tripping and falling forward during the daytime. In the present study, 37.7 % of falls resulted in injuries and 5.2 % resulted in fractures. Experience of fall was significantly related to medication [odds ratio (OR) 4.09, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.90–8.80, P < 0.001] and postoperative duration (OR 0.89, 95 % CI 0.81–0.98, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Thus, patients have an increased risk for falls and fall-induced injuries after THA. Falls in post-THA patients are associated with medication and shorter postoperative duration. Therefore, it is essential to prevent falls in patients who have undergone THA, particularly during the early postoperative period and among patients administered medications.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the patients who kindly agreed to participate. We are grateful to Keiichi Tagomori and Namika Miura for their help and support.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation, Masuhara Clinic, 3-4-2, Tenmabashi, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0042, Japan

    Hisashi Ikutomo, Norikazu Nakagawa & Kensaku Masuhara

  2. Department of Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Health Science, Hyogo University of Health Sciences, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

    Koutatsu Nagai

Authors
  1. Hisashi Ikutomo
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  2. Koutatsu Nagai
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  3. Norikazu Nakagawa
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  4. Kensaku Masuhara
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Correspondence to Hisashi Ikutomo.

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Ikutomo, H., Nagai, K., Nakagawa, N. et al. Falls in patients after total hip arthroplasty in Japan. J Orthop Sci 20, 663–668 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-015-0715-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-015-0715-7

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