Rehabilitation approaches and outcomes following hip surgery for coxarthrosis

Background and objectives. Coxarthrosis is a chronic degenerative condition that affects mobility and quality of life. Total hip arthroplasty is an effective surgical intervention for advanced cases, but its success depends on both pre- and postoperative rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of early postoperative rehabilitation protocols in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty at the General Hospital Borka Taleski in Prilep, North Macedonia, between 2019 and 2024. Materials and methods. This longitudinal observational study used a mixed-methods approach. Data were collected from 140 participants who underwent hip arthroplasty, based on medical records and patient-reported outcomes. Rehabilitation protocols included therapeutic massage, passive and active-assisted exercises, and verticalization. Pain levels, functional recovery, and demographic trends were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results. The rehabilitation protocols led to a reduction in postoperative pain levels, as indicated by the visual analog scale. Functional recovery, assessed through mobility and patient-reported satisfaction, improved in 50% of patients. A total of 30.7% of patients required contralateral hip surgery, indicating a predisposition to bilateral hip degeneration. Urban patients generally accessed treatment later than rural patients, as reflected by higher mean ages. Conclusions. Early postoperative rehabilitation enhances pain management and functional outcomes following hip arthroplasty. Variability in outcomes underscores the need for standardized yet personalized rehabilitation protocols. Future research should examine long-term recovery and involve multicenter trials.