Activity Level in Young Patients With Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A 5-Year Minimum Follow-up

Sechriest, V. Franklin; Kyle, Richard F.; Marek, Daniel J.; Spates, Jesse D.; Saleh, Khaled J.; Kuskowski, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.arth.2006.02.083

« Previous Next »The Journal of Arthroplasty
Volume 22, Issue 1 , Pages 39-47, January 2007

Activity Level in Young Patients With Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty:

A 5-Year Minimum Follow-up

V. Franklin Sechriest II, MD
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Reprint requests: V. Franklin Sechriest II, LCDR, MC, US Navy, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134-1401.
Richard F. Kyle, MD
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Daniel J. Marek, MD
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jesse D. Spates, BA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Khaled J. Saleh, MD
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Michael Kuskowski, PhD
- The Minneapolis Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Received 6 July 2005; accepted 8 February 2006.

Abstract

Increased activity level after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is considered a risk factor for early prosthetic failure in young patients. Forty-one primary total hip arthroplasties in 34 patients were evaluated. Walking activity was measured using a pedometer to record gait cycles. Patients completed a University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity questionnaire. Linear wear rates were measured. Mean ages at surgery and final follow-up were 42 and 50.3 years, respectively (mean gait cycles per year, 1.2 million; mean UCLA score, 6; mean linear wear, 0.16 mm/y). Increased body mass index and age correlated with decreased gait cycles per year. Patients with systemic disease were less active than patients with localized hip conditions. Femoral head diameter was a predictor of linear wear. The average gait cycles per year and wear rate for this population do not appear accelerated relative to average values reported in older populations.

Key words: THA, young patient, activity level, pedometer