Measurement properties of New Mobility Score to evaluate functional recovery in the elderly following total hip arthroplasty

Abstract

Introduction/Objective. The aim of this study is to identify and evaluate the use of New Mobility Score in estimating functional recovery 3 months after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods. Seventy patients, aged > 60, who underwent THA. Treatment group was subjected to the comprehensive rehabilitation program and control group to the standard one. Primary outcome was assessed with Harris Hip Score (HHS) and New Mobility Score (NMS), and secondary one by Medical Outcomes Health Survey (Short Form Health Survey - SF-36). Questionnaires were collected before and three months after hip surgery. Results. Treatment group showed significant improvement 3 months postoperatively. The correlation in both groups between HHS and NMS was very strong (r > 0.700). Treatment group following surgery showed strong correlation between Recovery through Personal Care Services (PCS) and HHS and NMS (r > 0.700), moderate to strong between pain categories and HHS (r = 0.380; r = 0.583) and NMS (r = 0.424). Control group showed strong correlation between PCS and HHS (r = 0.704), and NMS (r = 0.568) and moderate to pain categories and HHS (r = 0.546; r = 0.466). The area under the curve (AUC) described the inherent validity of all measurement used AUCNMS = 0.724, p = 0.001, AUCHHS = 0.788, p = 0.000 and AUCPCS = 0.747, p = 0.001. Conclusion. The NMS could be successfully used in routine clinical assessment of elderly patients following THA. The trial is registered in ISRCTN Register with https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN73197506