Return to Sport after Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty and Patello-femoral Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Data on sports/physical activity participation following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and patello-femoral arthroplasty (PFA) is variable and limited. The purpose of this study was to assess participations, outcomes, and limitations in sports following UKA and PFA.

METHODS: Patients who underwent UKA and PFA at a single institution from 2015 to 2020 were surveyed on sports participation before and after surgery. Data was correlated with perioperative patient characteristics and outcome scores. Among 776 patients surveyed, 356 (50%) patients responded. Of respondents, 296 (83.1%) underwent UKA, 44 (12.6%) underwent PFA, and 16 (4.5%) underwent both UKA/PFA.

RESULTS: Activity participation rates were 86.5, 77.3, and 87.5% five years prior, and 70.9, 61.4, and 75% at one year prior to UKA, PFA, and UKA/PFA, respectively. Return to sports rates were 81.6, 64.7, and 62.3% at mean 4.6 years postoperatively, respectively. The most common activities were recreational walking, swimming, cycling, and golf. Patients returned to a similar participation level for low-impact activities, whereas participation decreased for intermediate- and high-impact activities. Patients participating in activities had higher postoperative Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Joint Replacement (P < 0.001), 12-Item Short Form Physical Component Score (P =0.045) and Mental Component Score (P=0.012). Activity restrictions were reported among 25, 36.4, and 25% of UKA, PFA, and UKA/PFA patients, respectively, and were more commonly self-imposed than surgeon-directed.

CONCLUSION: Though UKA patients' postoperative sports participation may improve compared to one year preoperatively, participation for patients surgically treated for isolated osteoarthritis is decreased compared to five years preoperatively and varies among patient subsets.