E.: The Oxygen Intake and Energy Cost of Walking Before and After Unilateral Hip Replacement, with Some Observations on the Use of Crutches

An opportunity arose of observing the effect of total hip replacement on the energy cost of walking in a patient suffering from post-traumatic monarticular arthritis of the left hip. The patient, aged sixty-two, weighing 78 kilograms and 182 centimetres tall, was a member of the staff of this laboratory and had taken part in exercise experiments over many years. The arthritis developed slowly over six years, becoming rapidly worse during the last year. In November 1971 a Stanmore metal to plastic prosthesis was implanted by Mr H. B. S. Kemp at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore. Before operation the patient was still able to walk two or three miles with the aid of a stick but was much troubled with pain at night. In October 1971 he began to use crutches as a means of taking exercise and learned to walk at up to 8 kilometres per hour with them. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND METHODS The oxygen intake was measured by the bag method during sustained walking on the treadmill at a series of speeds up to the patient’s maximum. Observations were made on three occasions: 1) one to two weeks before operation; 2) three months after operation; and 3) nine months after operation. The oxygen intake was measured at two to five speeds at each session