To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a prospective study with 7 years of follow-up in 49 consecutive patients who underwent a total joint replacement because of osteoarthritis.
Generic HRQOL was assessed with the short-form 36 (SF-36) and specific HRQOL with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).
Out of the 39 subjects who have completed the 7 years of follow-up of this study, 22 (56.4 %) underwent a hip replacement surgery and the other 17 (43.6 %) a knee replacement. Six months after surgery, a significant improvement, compared to preoperative scores, was observed in two of the eight dimensions of the SF-36 (i.e. physical function and pain). The same dimensions, pain and physical function, at the same time, 6 months after surgery, measured by the WOMAC, showed a significant improvement as well, but there was no significant change in the stiffness score. From 6 months to the end of follow-up, changes in SF-36 scores showed a significant improvement in physical function (p = 0.008), role-physical (p = 0.004) and role-emotional (p = 0.01) while all scores of the WOMAC improved (p < 0.001 for pain, p < 0.001 for stiffness and p < 0.01 for physical function).
The improvements observed in HRQOL at short term after surgery, are at least maintained over a 7-year follow-up period.