Activity levels and polyethylene wear of patients 10 years post hip replacement

BackgroundWear of the acetabular cup and implant loosening in total hip arthroplasty are thought to be affected by individual patient activity levels.MethodsActivity levels of 100 patients with unilateral primary hip replacements were measured using a digital pedometer 10-years post-operatively.FindingsActivity 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.InterpretationProgressive reduction in activity levels with more elderly hip replacement patients may inform long term planning of hip arthroplasty and implant choice.