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Return to sports, recreational activity and patient-reported outcomes after lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

As the indication for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in recent years has been extended to young and more active patients, the expectations concerning the postoperative level of activity are high. The aim of the following study was to survey the activity level and the health-related quality of life of patients following lateral UKA.

Methods

Forty-five patients were surveyed to determine their sporting and recreational activities at a mean follow-up of 3 years (range 2.0–4.3 years) after lateral UKA. We also assessed health-related quality of life of our patients at the time of the survey by use of the SF-36 Health Survey.

Results

Before the onset of the first restricting symptoms, 42 of 45 (93 %) patients were active in at least one sport compared to 43 of 45 (96 %) patients after surgery resulting in a return to activity rate of 98 %. Within 3 months, 56 % returned to their activities after surgery and 78 % within 6 months. The mean postoperative UCLA score was 6.7 (±1.5). Two-thirds of the patients reached a high activity level (UCLA ≥7). Most common activities after surgery were biking, hiking and long walks. While high-impact activities showed a significant decrease, low-impact activities showed a significant increase. The main reason for a decrease in patients’ level of activity was precaution. There are no statistically significant differences in the postoperative scores of our patients and those of a matched healthy reference population in the SF-36 scores.

Conclusion

The results of the present study demonstrate that a vast majority (98 %) of our patients independent to age or gender returned to sports and recreational activity after lateral UKA. Two-thirds of the patients reached a high activity level. Activities patients were most participating in were low- or mid-impact, whereas high-impact activities were mostly given up. Further follow-up is necessary to assess the effect of activity on implant fixation and wear.

Level of evidence

Retrospective case series, Level IV.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Dr. Peter R. Aldinger and Prof. Dr. Michael Clarius for performing the surgery. MRS was supported by the non-commercial research fund of Deutsche-Arthrose-Hilfe e.v. In addition, benefits have been directed to a research fund by Biomet, Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstrasse 200a, 69118, Heidelberg, Germany

    Tilman Walker, Tobias Gotterbarm, Christian Merle & Marcus R. Streit

  2. Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Thomas Bruckner

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  1. Tilman Walker
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Correspondence to Marcus R. Streit.

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Walker, T., Gotterbarm, T., Bruckner, T. et al. Return to sports, recreational activity and patient-reported outcomes after lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 3281–3287 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3111-5

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