Stair Ascending and Descending in Hip Resurfacing and Large Head Total Hip Arthroplasty Patients

Large head total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) are alternatives to standard THA that generally have head sizes larger than 36 mm. This study examined 20 patients (10 large head THA and 10 HRA), at an average of 18 months postoperatively, and 15 healthy control subjects during stair negotiation. Hip kinetic and kinematic variables and ground reaction forces were measured. The THA and HRA groups ascended the stairs with increased peak hip flexion angles and decreased hip extension angles as compared with controls. The operative groups also descended the stairs with decreased hip flexion moments. No differences between the operative groups were observed. Eighteen months postoperatively, patients with large head THA or HRA display abnormal flexion and extension during a physically-demanding task.