Activity levels and polyethylene wear of patients 10 years post hip replacement.
BACKGROUND
Wear of the acetabular cup and implant loosening in total hip arthroplasty are thought to be affected by individual patient activity levels.


METHODS
Activity levels of 100 patients with unilateral primary hip replacements were measured using a digital pedometer 10-years post-operatively.


RESULTS
Activity rates of hip replacement patients 10 years post surgery were found to fall with increasing age strata, with the age group 70-74 years showing significantly reduced activity rates compared to the 55-64 years age group and the age group greater than 80 years showing significantly reduced activity rates compared to both the 55-64 years age group and the 65-69 years age group. However, a clear correlation between age and activity was not found. Acetabular cup wear showed no relationship with patient activity levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Progressive reduction in activity levels with more elderly hip replacement patients may inform long term planning of hip arthroplasty and implant choice.
Bennett
D
D
Outcomes Assessment Unit, Musgrave Park Hospital, Northern Ireland, UK. damien.bennett.mph@hotmail.com
Humphreys
L
L
O'Brien
S
S
Kelly
C
C
Orr
J
J
Beverland
D E
DE
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004868:Equipment Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D020959:Polyethylene; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020959:Polyethylene