Relationship of wound cosmesis with patient-reported outcome measures following total hip arthroplasty.

Abstract

Although a few studies have assessed cosmetic outcomes following total hip arthroplasty (THA), none have investigated their association with hip-specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cosmetic outcomes and PROMs following THA. We included 139 cases of primary THAs for osteoarthritis of the hip with a follow-up period of at least 1 year. Cosmetic outcomes were evaluated using the Patient Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS) from the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale. PROMs were assessed using the Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ). Correlations between cosmetic outcomes and PROMs were analysed. The mean follow-up period after THA was 24 months. The PSAS total score was negatively correlated with the FJS-12 total score (r = -0.430, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and JHEQ total score (r = -0.243, <i>p</i> = 0.004). Among the JHEQ subscales, negative correlations were observed with the pain (r = -0.221, <i>p</i> = 0.009) and mental (r = -0.288, <i>p</i> < 0.001) subscales. Better cosmetic outcomes were associated with better PROMs after THA. However, the direction and clinical importance of the association remain unclear and warrant further investigation.