The Effect of High-Impact Sports on Total Knee Arthroplasties

Orthopedic surgeons continue to discourage high-impact sports after total knee arthroplasty because of the theoretical risk of polyethylene wear. However, increasing numbers of patients are seeking an active lifestyle after surgery, and many are choosing to participate in high-impact sports. Although simulated laboratory conditions have shown high-impact loading can have adverse effects on the durability of total knee arthroplasties, there are no known in vivo studies which specifically analyze conditions in patients participating in high-impact sports activity. The purpose of the present study was to analyze whether the clinical and radiographic results of total knee arthroplasties in patients returning to demanding, high-impact sports activity after surgery differed from those of patients who did not participate in these activities.