Background/Purpose: To assess the association of dependence on walking aids with pain and function outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: We used the Mayo Clinic Total Joint Registry to study patients who underwent primary or revision THA between 1993-2005 and completed a 2-year or 5-year pain and function outcomes survey.  Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression assessed the associations, adjusting for clinical/demographic variables and preoperative pain and function.

Results: Primary THA cohort had 5,707 patients at 2-year and 3,289 at 5-years; revision THA included 2,667 patients at 2-year and 1,627 patients at 5-years.  Compared to patients with no dependence on walking aids, patients with some or complete dependence on walking aids had significantly higher odds (95% confidence interval) of: (1) moderate-severe pain post-primary THA at 2-years: 3.40 (2.06, 5.62) and 4.79 (2.88, 7.97); (2) moderate-severe pain post-primary THA at 5-years: 3.92 (2.21, 6.95) and 3.47 (1.97, 6.11); (3) moderate-severe pain post-revision THA at 2-years, 4.67 (2.76, 7.91) and 2.95 (1.65, 5.27); (4) moderate-severe pain post-revision THA at 5-years: 3.95 (1.86, 8.38) and 5.16 (2.59, 10.3); (5) moderate-severe mobility limitation post-primary THA at 2-years: 10.7 (6.78, 17.0) and 14.2 (8.32, 24.3); (6) moderate-severe mobility limitation post-primary THA at 5-years: 13.2 (7.34, 23.7) and 21.4 (10.6, 43.2); (7) moderate-severe mobility limitation post-revision THA at 2-years: 4.90 (2.87, 8.37) and 8.26 (4.12, 16.6); (8) moderate-severe mobility limitation post-revision THA at 5-years: 5.12 (2.32, 11.3) and 10.1 (4.53, 22.7), respectively.

Conclusion: Post-THA dependence on walking aids is associated with worse pain and function outcomes post-THA.