Functional Outcomes of Total Hip Replacement in Inflammatory Hip Arthritis: Influence of Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs and Postoperative Analgesic Management.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory hip arthritis caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis leads to progressive joint destruction, severe pain, and disability. Total hip replacement (THR) is an effective surgical intervention; however, pharmacological factors such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and postoperative analgesic management may influence outcomes. AIM: To evaluate functional outcomes of THR in inflammatory hip arthritis and assess the influence of DMARD therapy and postoperative analgesic requirements. METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study was conducted on 30 patients with inflammatory hip arthritis undergoing primary THR. Functional outcomes were assessed using Harris hip score (HHS), visual analogue scale (VAS), and range of motion. Data on perioperative DMARD use and postoperative analgesic requirements were recorded. Patients were followed for 12 months. RESULTS: Mean HHS improved from 38.6 ± 7.2 preoperatively to 87.4 ± 6.8 at 12 months (P < 0.001). Mean VAS decreased from 8.1 ± 1.0 to 1.3 ± 0.6. Patients on optimized DMARD therapy demonstrated better functional recovery and lower postoperative pain scores. Increased analgesic requirement was observed during early postoperative periods, but reduced significantly over time. CONCLUSION: THR provides excellent functional improvement in inflammatory hip arthritis. DMARD optimization and effective analgesic management significantly influence postoperative recovery and patient outcomes.