Quantify Assessment of Locomotion in Orthopaedic Surgery

The assessment of function can be made by measure of performance, or measure of energetic balance or by clinical scorings. These methods are not fully satisfied: performance and energetic balance can be used mainly in athletes and no patients; clinical scorings present a subjective contribution. Our research aimed to develop quantitative devices to assess locomotion and functional results. Gait analysis could be used. With such methods, it has been possible to demonstrate the effect of NSAI vs placebo in hip arthritic patients. The study of the dynamic of the global center of gravity of patient during gait appears as a very good parameter. This measure is currently made using accelerometers. We have just shown that accelerometers provided a better assessment than clinical scorings after total hip arthroplasty.