Comparison of pre- and postoperative functional dependence in older adults submitted to hip arthroplasty

Introduction Femur fractures and hip osteoarthritis affect the functional independence of older adults. Hip arthroplasty (HA) is a surgery to treat these conditions and physiotherapy can reduce functional dependence levels. Objective Compare pre- and postoperative functional dependence in older adults submitted to HA, assess the association between functional dependence and independence, and whether age is associated with greater functional dependence in these patients. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive comparative study with older adult volunteers submitted to HA evaluated before and after surgery using the Katz index and Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Comparative analysis was performed via Wilcoxon’s matched pairs test and Spearman’s correlation. Linear regression was applied to assess the influence of functional dependence on postoperative independence (p < 0.05). Results Forty-eight patients were evaluated in the pre- and postoperative stages using the Katz index, which demonstrated reduced functional dependence after HA. The FIM assessment indicated greater post-operative functional dependence, demonstrating the surgical procedure combined with early physiotherapy while patients were hospitalized promoted functional independence in older adults. Additionally, there was a directly proportional relationship between dependence level and age. Conclusion Functional dependence declined after HA, which improved independence in older adults. Functional dependence affected postoperative independence and age influenced functional dependence.