Digital Rehabilitation After Hip Arthroplasty: a Randomized Controlled Trial (Digihip)

The study aims to compare the effectiveness of tele-rehabilitation versus no physical therapy after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in improving patient-reported outcomes and functional recovery. THR is a common surgical procedure to relieve pain and improve function in patients with a variety of hip conditions. Traditional physical therapy is a standard component of the post-operative care pathway for PTH patients, but can be hampered by logistical obstacles. Tele-rehabilitation is emerging as a promising alternative, offering the potential to overcome these barriers and improve access to care. The study uses a prospective monocentric design with two arms and a follow-up time of 6 months. The primary objective is assessed using the Timed up and go Test (TUG), while secondary objectives include patient-reported outcome measures, patient satisfaction, healthcare utilization, and return to physical activity.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Hip Arthroplasty, Total
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Standard rehabilitation; Procedure: Tele-rehabilitation

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Pierre Laboudie, MD; Phone Number: +33671270463; Email: pierre.laboudie@gmail.com

Study Locations

• France
  • Merignac, France, 33700
    • Recruiting
    • Clinique du Sport
    • Contact: Pierre Laboudie, MD; Phone Number: +33 (0)5 56 18 17 10; Email: secretariatdrlaboudie@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have an email address and a smartphone
• Patient speaking and writing French
• Patient covered by a social security scheme

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hip revision surgery, significant comorbidities (Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke) or psychiatric disorders (substance use) that could interfere with rehabilitation
• Patients with disorders that make it difficult for them to express their feelings
• Pregnant or breast-feeding patients
• Patient under protective supervision
• Patient not covered by a social security scheme

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: standard rehabilitation	Procedure: Standard rehabilitation; rehabilitation with a private physiotherapist. Patients usually undergo 15 rehabilitation sessions, in line with HAS recommendations; the number of sessions can go up to 25, depending on the patient's profile and needs.
Experimental: Tele-rehabilitation	Procedure: Tele-rehabilitation; Tele-education is a digital home-based intervention involving exercises and education. Patients are monitored remotely by a physiotherapist via a secure messaging system. The system consists of a mobile application for the patient and a web portal enabling the physiotherapist to review patient data (physical activity, pain levels, medication use, exercise adherence, patient-reported results, images, videos) on a daily basis and tailor the protocol accordingly.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time Up and Go test	The TUG is a clinical test used to assess patients' mobility and risk of falling. It measures the time required for a person to stand up from a chair, walk a short distance, turn around, return to the chair and sit down.	6 weeks and 6 months after surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Clinique du Sport, Bordeaux Mérignac

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 4, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 13, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 13, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): January 17, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 11, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 10, 2025
• Last Verified: June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024-17-SBM

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No