Return to Play and Performance in Golfers After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Does Component Type Matter?
Recommended Citation
Tramer JS, Maier LM, Klag EA, Ayoola AS, Charters MA, and North WT. Return to Play and Performance in Golfers After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Does Component Type Matter? Sports Health 2021.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-4-2021
Publication Title
Sports Health
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Golf is a popular sport among patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The golf swing requires significant knee rotation, which may lead to changes in golfing ability postoperatively. The type of implant used may alter the swing mechanics or place different stresses on the knee. The purpose of this study was to evaluate golf performance and subjective stability after TKA and compare outcomes between cruciate-retaining (CR) and posterior-stabilized (PS) implants.
HYPOTHESIS: Patients with CR implants will experience better stability during the golf swing compared to patients with PS implants.
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.
METHODS: Patients who underwent primary TKA were identified from the medical record and sent an electronic questionnaire focusing on return to play (RTP), performance, pain, and stability during the golf swing. Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) were collected before and at multiple time points after surgery. Patients were surveyed postoperatively and asked to evaluate overall performance, pain, and stability before and after surgery. Outcomes were compared based on implant type.
RESULTS: Most patients (81.5%) were able to return to golf at an average of 5.3 ± 3.1 months from surgery. The average postoperative KOOS was 74.6 ± 12.5 in patients able to RTP compared with 64.4 ± 9.5 in those who were not (
CONCLUSION: Most patients can successfully return to golfing after TKA. Knee replacement offers patients reliable pain relief during the golf swing and fewer physical limitations during golf, with no detriment to performance. There is no difference in performance or subjective knee stability based on component type.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Understanding associated outcomes of different TKA knee systems allows for unbiased and confident recommendations of either component to golfers receiving total knee replacement.
PubMed ID
34085837
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
