Sportorthopädie

Abstract

Total hip arthroplasty (THA)is one of the most successful surgical procedures known to man, but the influence of patient activities on implant survival remains controversial. With the increasing number of hip arthroplasties, especially in a younger population, the activity levels and expectations of patients have continuously increased. This is especially true in regard to a return to sports. New implants combined with less traumatic surgical approaches and more aggressive rehabilitation protocols seem to offer sports medicine and our arthroplasty patients a more active and brighter future. Reliable data with regard to the topic Return to sports after hip replacement remain sparse. The post-THA orthopedic consultation must take many aspects into account, beginning with the individuals activity level and concluding with evaluation of the surgical outcome. Joint arthroplasty should not prohibit the implementation of sporting activities, especially as inactivity can produce a number of different problems. Low-impact activities are generally encouraged for all THA patients. The effects of high-impact athletic participation, on the other hand, still remain unclear, so that all interested patients, especially the more active individuals, must be counseled individually. Recommendations are undergoing constant change and must be modified by the treating surgeon accordingly, frequently without the help of evidence-based medicine.This review will offer some guidance with the help of a general review of the literature and current trends.KEY WORDS: Arthroplasty, Joint Replacement, Hip, Sport