Partial versus early full weight bearing after uncemented total hip arthroplasty: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of partial weight bearing (PWB) versus early full weight bearing (FWB) after uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: We conducted a search in PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs comparing PWB and early FWB after uncemented THA. Two authors conducted the selection of studies, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias independently. A pooled meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: Six RCTs and three non-RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis indicated that compared with PWB, the FWB group showed greater femoral subsidence at 3-month follow-up (MD = −0.12, 95% CI −0.22 to −0.01, P = 0.03). There were no significant differences in the hip Harris score at 1-year and 2-year follow-up (MD = 1.54, 95% CI −0.83 to 3.90, P = 0.20; MD = 0.08, 95% CI −1.19 to 1.34, P = 0.90, respectively), in femoral subsidence at 2-year follow-up and at two additional years of follow-up (MD = −0.03, 95% CI −0.31 to 0.25, P = 0.84; (MD = −0.02, 95% CI −0.37 to 0.33, P = 0.91, respectively). There were no significant differences in the incidences of bone ingrowth fixation, spot welds, and radiolucent lines. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis shows that early FWB in patients with uncemented THA could be safe and could not increase the incidence of postoperative complications.