The researchers were interested in determining which preoperative factors could predict unmet patient expectations for participation in sporting or recreational activity following THA. 

Secondary aims focused on preoperative factors predicting unmet expectations for pain relief and activities of daily living.

The research utilised 758 subjects who had all undergone elective unilateral or bilateral THA to address hip OA. 

Patient-reported outcome measures were collected preoperatively and 12 months after THA. 

Patient data also included age, gender, weight, height and residential postcode, with height and weight used to calculate patients’ BMI.

The patients’ degree of mobility, pain, self-care, activity and depression were measured with the EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), while the EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ VAS) explored the patients’ self-perceived health status.

Twelve months following surgery, 13 per cent of subjects reported that their preoperative expectations of participation in sport and recreation were not met, the predictors being younger age, higher BMI and lower preoperative EQ VAS. 

While 95 per cent of subjects were satisfied overall with their THA, expectations were not met for 10 per cent of subjects in terms of pain relief, and for seven per cent regarding activities of daily living.

The researchers reported that the strengths of the study included the large sample size and good rates of follow-up, as well as being one of the few studies that has looked at sport and recreation expectations post-THA. 

Limitations included the retrospective, observational design of the study and that the cohort mainly consisted of subjects of high socioeconomic advantage who underwent THA surgery in a private hospital, which could limit the generalisability of the research.

Matt et al. Failure to Meet Expectations of Sport or Recreation Following Total Hip Arthroplasty Is Associated With Younger Age, Higher BMI, and Worse Health. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2024(2:3) doi: 10.2519/josptopen.2024.0809