Root mean square of lower trunk acceleration during walking in patients with unilateral total hip replacement

Although several studies have described abnormal trunk motion before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgery, few studies have examined trunk motion using accelerometry. The aim of this study was to determine whether abnormal trunk motion persisted after THA using accelerometry. A total of 24 female patients (61.0 +/- 6.9 years) and 20 healthy female subjects (59.9 +/- 6.8 years) participated in this study. Patients were assessed at 1 month prior to surgery and 12 months after surgery. Trunk acceleration during gait was measured using a triaxial accelerometer attached to the L3 spinous process. We calculated the root mean square (RMS) and RMS ratio (RMSR) in the vertical (VT), medio-lateral (ML), and anterior-posterior (AP) directions. Results revealed that the RMS in the VT and AP directions postoperatively was greater than that preoperatively, whereas there was no difference in the RMS in the ML direction. In addition, the preoperative RMSR in the ML direction was significantly greater compared with that of healthy individuals and the postoperative RMSR. There was no difference in the RMSR in the ML direction between healthy individuals and postoperatively. These findings suggested that the trunk motion in the frontal plane prior to surgery had improved and was comparable to that of healthy individuals following THA.