A Novel Assessment of Braking Reaction Time following THA Using a New Fully Interactive Driving Simulator. Issue 2 (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ruel, Allison V.; Lee, Yuo-yu; Boles, John; Boettner, Friedrich; Su, Edwin; Westrich, Geoffrey H.
• Is Part Of: HSS journal. Volume 11:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 143
• Page End: 147
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: THA -- driving simulator -- braking reaction time -- return to driving; Musculoskeletal system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Orthopedic surgery -- Periodicals; Musculoskeletal System -- surgery -- Periodicals; Orthopedic Procedures -- Periodicals; Orthopédie -- Périodiques; Appareil locomoteur -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Appareil locomoteur -- Maladies -- Patients -- Réadaptation -- Périodiques; 617.47005
• DOI: 10.1007/s11420-015-9437-9
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1556-3316

Abstract

Background: After total hip replacement surgery, patients are eager to resume the activities of daily life, particularly driving. Most surgeons recommend waiting 6 weeks after surgery to resume driving; however, there is no evidence to indicate that patients cannot resume driving earlier. Questions/Purposes: Our purpose was to evaluate when in the recovery period following THA that patients regain or improve upon their preoperative braking reaction time, allowing them to safely resume driving. Methods: We measured and compared pre- and postoperative braking reaction times of 90 patients from 3 different surgeons using a Fully Interactive Driving Simulator (Simulator Systems International, Tulsa, OK). We defined a return to safe braking reaction time as a return to a time value that is either equal to or less than the preoperative braking reaction time. Results: Patients tested at 2 and 3 weeks after surgery had slower braking reaction times than preoperative times by an average of 0.069 and 0.009 s, respectively. At 4 weeks after surgery, however, patients improved their reaction times by 0.035 s ( p = 0.0398). In addition, at 2, 3, and 4 weeks postoperatively, the results also demonstrated that patient less than 70 years of age recovered faster. Conclusions: Based upon the results of this study, most patients should be allowed to return to driving 4 weeks following minimally invasive primary total hip arthroplasty.