Reliability of 4-meter and 10-meter walk tests after lower extremity surgery

PURPOSE

To investigate the test-retest reliability of the 4-meter walk test (4 MWT) and 10-meter walk test (10 MWT) in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery during inpatient rehabilitation.

METHOD

In all, 102 patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), lower extremity fracture (LEF) and soft tissue operation were recruited. Patients performed two 4 MWT and two 10 MWT trials on the same day. The same researcher performed all the measurements to avoid inter-rater variability.

RESULTS

The 4 MWT and 10 MWT were shown to have excellent test-retest reliability. The ICCs for the 4 MWT and 10 MWT were found as 0.94 and 0.95, respectively. The SEMs for the 4 MWT and 10 MWT were 2.0 and 5.5 seconds, respectively. The smallest real difference at the 95% confidence level (SRD95) was 5.5 seconds for the 4 MWT and 12.2 seconds for 10 MWT and SRD95 percentage was 31.2 for the 4 MWT and 28.5 for the 10 MWT.

CONCLUSION

Both the 4 MWT and the 10 MWT have excellent reliability in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery such as TKA, THA, LEF and soft tissue operation during inpatient rehabilitation. Clinicians and researchers can be confident that changes above the SRD95s for the different patient groups, for both sexes and with regard to weight-bearing status, represent a real clinical change in rehabilitation process. Implications for Rehabilitation The 4 MWT and the 10 MWT are simple methods and were also shown to be reliable measurement methods in many patient groups. This study illustrates that the test-retest reliability of the 4 MWT and 10 MWT are excellent in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery during inpatient rehabilitation (ICC: 0.94 for 4 MWT, ICC: 0.95 for 10 MWT). Clinicians and researchers can be confident that changes above the SRD95s for the different patient groups, for both sexes and with regard to weight-bearing status represent a real clinical change in rehabilitation process.

The Thrust Plate Hip Prosthesis: A Follow-Up of 15-20 Years With 102 Implants

BACKGROUND

Between November 1992 and January 1999, a cohort of 102 thrust plate hip prostheses was implanted.

METHODS

We now clinically and radiologically evaluate the remaining 73 prostheses with a mean follow-up of 17.2 years.

RESULTS

The Harris Hip Score increased from 51.4 points preoperatively to 94.3 points at the time of this follow-up. No further changes in the radiologic findings occurred since the first follow-up, published in 2005, conducted 2-8 years after implantation. Within 15 to 20 years after primary implantation of the 102 prostheses, 6 aseptic loosenings occurred, which correspond to a cumulated survival rate of 94.7% at 17 and 91.8% at 18 years.

CONCLUSION

Although the thrust plate hip prostheses is no longer marketed, the biomechanical behaviour of this unique, clinically successful prosthesis deserves attention.