OBJECTIVES:

The aim of our study was to compare functional outcomes related to hospital discharge of hip arthroplasty patients operated in the state and private health care in Hungary.

METHODS:

Patients were selected from the Department of Orthopedics, Clinical Centre of the University of Pécs and at the Da Vinci Private Clinic in Pécs. They completed a questionnaire during hospital discharge, which included questions on functional outcomes.

RESULTS:

The research involved 208 people, 96 patients in the state and 112 in the private health care. Patients in the state sector were discharged on the 6th day and private patients on the 2nd day after surgery (p<0.001). 27.68% of private patients left without a walking aid, while all state patients left with them. 53.57% of patients on the private care left with one elbow crutch (p<0.001) and 87.50% of patients on the state care left with two elbow crutches (p<0.001). State patients had their first staircase on the 4th day and private patients on the 1st day after surgery (p<0.001). While state sector patients strode step by step, private patients strode with alternating legs (p<0.001). The difference in lower limb length was significantly improved for both care systems (state care: from 1.18 cm to 0.26 cm, private care: from 0.96 cm to 0.10 cm) (p<0.001), and the difference between the limbs of private patients was significantly lower after surgery (p=0.023).

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients undergoing hip replacement surgery in the state and private health sectors showed different outcomes in hospital discharge data, which may be related to the different surgical techniques used in the two sectors. Patients in the private sector were therefore able to stair and leave the clinic earlier, and also used walking aids at a lower rate. The difference in lower limb length was significantly improved in both groups.