(Research Hub Theater) The Influence on Gait Speed of the Central Sensitization After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Objective: The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) is a screening tool for central sensitization (CS). It has been reported that a higher CSI score before Total Knee Arthroplasty was associated with a poorer prognosis 3 months after surgery. Therefore, we investigated the effect of CS before Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) on postoperative walking speed in patients with hip osteoarthritis.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Hospital with orthopedic surgery.

Participants: 187 patients with hip arthroplasty with THA (32 men, 155 women; mean age 66.5 ± 10.0 years).

Interventions: not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: CSI, walking speed at 4 weeks postoperatively, Short-Form McGill Pain Questioner (a pain-related questionnaire), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Pressure pain threshold in two locations (upper and lower extremities), hip range of motion (ROM), hip abductor strength (HS), knee extensor strength (KS).

Results: Age, PCS, CSI, hip extension ROM, HS, and KS were significantly correlated with gait speed. Multiple regression analysis showed that age, CSI, hip extension ROM, and KS significantly contributed to gait speed (R² =0.38, p<.0001).

Conclusions: In this study, we showed that preoperative CSI before THA affects postoperative functional prognosis. Evaluation of preoperative CSI could predict poor prognosis in postoperative patients, and preoperative measures could help improve prognosis.