Total Hip Arthroplasty in Senior Basketball Players

INTRODUCTION: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a treatment method for end-stage osteoarthritis of the hip joint. The number of performed THA each year increases due to the ageing population. And the number of patients who wish to return not only to daily activities but also to sports after surgery is increasing. Therefore understanding, can patients return to high activity sports after THA is becoming exceptionally important. The aim of our study was to analyse long-term outcomes of THA in senior basketball players. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six THA patients who have been playing in a senior basketball club since the year 1993 were included in the study. All patients are training twice a week and regularly participate in basketball championships. The patient pain level in hip joints and functional status was determined by using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and High Activity Arthroplasty Score (HAAS). Radiographs of hip joints were acquired to evaluate the mechanical condition of the prostheses. RESULTS: Patient mean age was 76.1±2.0 (7478) years. Three patients had undergone unilateral THA and three bilateral THA. The mean period after which patients returned to sports activities was 7.5±1.6 (69) months. After 11.8±3.8 (718) years from the THA procedure, none of the patients had revision operations. The mean pain level during daily activities was1.3± 1.75 (04) and during sports activities2.0± 2.7 (06) points. The mean HAAS value was 15.3±2.2 (1218) points. The radiographic assessment showed the optimal position of all the prostheses; there were no signs of prosthetic loosening and minimal polyethene wear. DISCUSSION: Increased stress forces on the prosthesis during high-level sports activities could theoretically increase the risk of prosthetic component wear, aseptic loosening and dislocations leading to poor long term outcomes. In our study, after 7 to 18 years of postsurgery, none of the patients had revision operations. No signs of prosthetic failure were detected on radiographs, and there was only minimal polyethene wear. All patients showed good clinical outcomes with only mild pain during sports activities and high functional results in walking, running, stair climbing, and general activities (included in HAAS). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that playing basketball after THA does not increase the risk of prosthesis failure after a mean period of 12 years. The good functional and radiographic outcomes are promising and suggest that patients could return to regular basketball activities after THA.