Professional practices and recommendations What is the interest of rehabilitation in physical medicine and functional rehabilitation ward after total hip arthroplasty? Elaboration of french clinical practice guidelines B. Barrois a, * , F. Gouin b , P. Ribinik a , M. Revel c , F. Rannou c a Service de MPR, centre hospitalier de Gonesse, 25, rue Pierre-de-Theilley, BP 30071, 95503 Gonesse cedex, France b Service de chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologique, CHU Hôtel-Dieu, 44093 Nantes cedex, France c Service de rééducation, APHP, université Paris-Descartes, groupe hospitalier Cochin, Paris, 75014, France Received 1 June 2007; accepted 10 July 2007 Abstract Objectives. – To develop clinical practice guidelines concerning the interest of post-operative rehabilitation in a physical medicine and func- tional rehabilitation (PMR) ward after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Method. – The SOFMER (French Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Society) methodology, associating a systematic literature review, collection of everyday clinical practice, and external review by a multidisciplinary expert panel, was used. Main outcomes were impairment, disability, medico-economic implications and postoperative complications. Results. – Post-operative rehabilitation in a PMR ward after THA is recommended for frail patients because of their functional status, and/or associated co-morbidities, and/or post-operative complications. For patients in whom sustained rehabilitation is not necessary, but who cannot return home, a stay in a non-specific (non-PMR) post-operative center could be recommended. Post-operative rehabilitation in a PMR ward after THA could reduce the length of stay in a surgical ward and increase the functional status of patients. The total cost of the different modalities of post-operative rehabilitation after THA needs evaluation. Conclusion. – This study suggests a value of rehabilitation in a PMR ward after THA, but good methodological quality studies are needed to evaluate the cost/benefit ratio of rehabilitation in a PMR ward after THA in the French health care system. © 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. Keywords: Indications; Osteoarthritis; Practice guidelines; Rehabilitation ward; Total hip arthroplasty Scientific committee Coudeyre Emmanuel, MD (SOFMER), Centre de MPR Notre-Dame, 63404 Chamalières, France. Genet François, MD (SOFMER), Service de MPR, groupe hospitalier Raymond-Poincare, 92380 Garches, France. Genty Marc, MD (SOFMER), Service de MPR, clinique Valmont, 1823 Glion, Suisse. Ribinik Patricia, MD (SOFMER), Service de MPR, centre hospitalier de Gonesse, BP 71, Gonesse 95503, France. Rannou François, MD, PhD (SOFMER), Service de MPR, hôpital Cochin, université Paris-V, 75014 Paris, France. Revel Michel, MD, (SOFMER), Service de MPR, hôpital Cochin, université Paris-V, 75014 Paris, France. Beaudreuil Johann, MD, PhD (SFR), Fédération de rhuma- tologie, hôpital Lariboisière, 75475 Paris, France. Lefevre-Colau Marie-Martine, MD, PhD (SFR), Service de MPR, hôpital Corentin-Celton, 92133 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Chevalier Xavier, MD, PhD (SFR), Service de rhumatolo- gie, hôpital Henri-Mondor, 94010 Créteil, France. Biau David, MD (SOFCOT), Service de chirurgie orthopé- dique et traumatologie B, hôpital Cochin, université Paris-V, 75014 Paris, France. Anract Philippe, MD (SOFCOT), Service de chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologie B, hôpital Cochin, université Paris-V, 75014 Paris, France. http://france.elsevier.com/direct/ANNRMP/ Annales de réadaptation et de médecine physique 50 (2007) 700–704 * Corresponding author. E-mail address: brigitte.barrois@ch-gonesse.fr (B. Barrois). 0168-6054/$ - see front matter © 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.annrmp.2007.07.005