EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TELEREHABILITATION AMONG GEORGIAN PATIENTS AFTER TOTAL ARTHROPLASTY HIP JOINT

Abstract

Summary. To achieve a good functional result, rehabilitation is a necessary component of the postoperative period for patients after total hip replacement.  In the Georgian healthcare system, rehabilitation treatment is not financed by insurance and a certain number of patients, after being discharged from the hospital, cannot afford to undergo a course at a rehabilitation center.  For such patients, we used virtual rehabilitation sessions with the help of Whatsapp or Waiber messengers, with a rehabilitologist who worked with patients in the hospital.  Sessions with a duration of 30-40 minutes were held 5 times a week, during the first month after discharge from the hospital. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual rehabilitation, by comparing patients of 3 groups.  Group A, 56 patients (women-35, men -21, average age of the group 69.4 years), underwent a standard course of rehabilitation in specialized institutions.  Group B, 52 patients (women 33, men 19, the average age of the group 69.8 years) underwent a course of virtual rehabilitation.  Group C, 42 patients (women 26, men 16, the average age of the group 72.8 years) did not undergo rehabilitation. The range of motion in the hip joint after hip replacement was estimated according to the M. D’Aubigne and M. Postel quantitative scale.  All patients were evaluated one month after surgery. Virtual rehabilitation has proven effective. It can be especially important for developing countries.