Long-term impact of physical activity and sports participation on implant integrity in resurfacing hip arthroplasty versus total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review.

Abstract

Objectives: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) and resurfacing hip arthroplasty (RHA) offer promising therapeutic solutions to physically active patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA). The impact of physical activity on long-term implant integrity in this population remains unknown. This systematic review compares the impact of physical activity and sports participation on implant integrity in THA versus RHA.

Methods: A comprehensive search of Medline, Embase (both via Ovid), Scopus, and CINAHL was conducted from inception to May 2023 following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data were reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Implant integrity was measured either radiographically, via serum metal ion levels or revision rates.

Results: A total of 16 studies with 4676 patients (THA: 3146; RHA: 1530) met the inclusion criteria. The median age at surgery was 60 years (range 49 to 86) in THA and 54 (range 49-61) years in RHA. At a median follow-up of 7.1 (range 4.8-13.1) years in THA and 10 (range 2.8-11.7) years in RHA, 3 studies out of 12, including 65.7% of the patients who underwent THA, and 2 studies out of 5, including 30.1% of the patients who underwent RHA, demonstrated that increased physical activity was associated with poor implant survivorship.

Conclusions: Patients undergoing THA or RHA should be counselled to participate in moderate physical activity and may benefit from avoiding sports that exert an excessive load on their implants. On average, the quality of the studies was moderate. The outcome measures used to quantify physical activity and implant integrity are heterogenous.