RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In 2020, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association established a new stage 3 in clinical decision limits (CDL) to evaluate the stage of locomotive syndrome (LS). This study focused on total CDL stage 3 with the aim of investigating indicators related to improvements in total CDL by evaluating the improvement of LS in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: Of the 125 patients who underwent THA at our hospital, the subjects of the analysis were 105 patients determined to be total CDL stage 3 in an evaluation performed before THA. LS was evaluated using the stand-up test, two-step test, and 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25). Indicators related to improvements in total CDL were also investigated. All evaluation items were measured before THA and three months after THA. RESULTS: Before THA, all subjects (n = 105) were classified as total CDL stage 3. Three months after THA, improvements in total CDL were seen in 49 subjects (46.7%). The results of stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the before THA stand-up test and GLFS-25 were significantly related to improvements in total CDL. CONCLUSIONS: Three months after THA, improvements in LS were seen in approximately half of the subjects. The stand-up test and GLFS-25 can be used as indicators of improvement in total CDL. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study design.