Golfers have greater preoperative and equal postoperative function when undergoing total knee arthroplasty compared to non-golfers

Abstract

Background Approximately 10% to 20% of patients with joint arthroplasties are golfers. The aim of this study was to assess if being a golfer is associated with functional outcomes, satisfaction or improvement in quality of life (QoL) compared to non-golfers following total knee arthroplasty. Methods All patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) over a one-year period at a single institution were included with one-year postoperative outcomes. Patients were retrospectively followed up to assess if they had been golfers at the time of their surgery. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the independent association of preoperative golfing status on postoperative function and health-related outcomes. Results The study cohort consisted of a total of 514 patients undergoing TKA. This included 223 (43.3%) male patients and 291 (56.7%) female patients, with an overall mean age of 70 (SD 9.5) years. The preoperative Oxford Knee Score (OKS) was significantly higher in golfers when adjusting for confounders (Diff 3.4 [95% CI 1 to 5.8], p = 0.006). There was no difference in postoperative outcomes between golfers and non-golfers. There was however a trend towards a higher Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) in the golfers (difference 9.3, 95% CI − 0.2 to 18.8, p = 0.056). Of the 48 patients who reported being golfers at the time of their surgery, 43 (89.6%) returned to golf and 88.4% of those were satisfied with their involvement in golf following surgery. Conclusions Golfers had better preoperative and equal postoperative knee specific function compared to non-golfers. The majority of golfers returned to golf by one year and were satisfied with their involvement in the game. Level of evidence III.

Golfing after Orthopaedic Surgery: A longitudinal follow-up (GOLF) study protocol

“… 24 Two retrospective studies analyzing the satisfaction levels of golfers when returning after hip or knee arthroplasty reported rates of 84% or 88%, respectively. 2 , 25 …”

“…24 Two retrospective studies analyzing the satisfaction levels of golfers when returning after hip or knee arthroplasty reported rates of 84% or 88%, respectively. 2,25 This study aims to prospectively follow patients through their arthroplasty journey and accurately describe key milestones in their return to golf. In addition to standard outcome measures, this study will facilitate the validity of a newly designed outcome questionnaire.…”

“…Other variables that will be reported include: if patients' golf is affected by any other joint problems, if patients have other existing joint arthroplasties or are awaiting consultation/surgery on other joints, and the type of golf course they play on. Patient-reported outcome measures will include the Golf After Arthroplasty Surgery score (GAAS) (Supplementary Material 2), Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score -Joint Replacement (HOOS-JR), 2 Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score -Joint Replacement (KOOS-JR), 17 American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES), 18 The Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ), 19 and PROMIS Global Health Survey. GAAS score.…”

“…1 In 2019, UK golfers spent £5.1 billion on their sport, which reflects a 20% increase in consumer spending since 2014. 2 The sport helps golfers meet the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for physical activity, 3 and the health benefits of golf have been well presented in a scoping review by Murray et al, 4 with players describing improved physical and mental wellbeing.…”

Knee

“…This companion study to the previously summarized hip study from Edinburgh (UK) assessed in a similar manner whether being a golfer was associated with improved functional outcomes, satisfaction, or improvement in quality of life compared to non-golfers following total knee arthroplasty. 6 The study cohort consisted of a total of 514 patients undergoing surgery at a single institution recruited over a consecutive 12-month period. There were 48 golfers within the cohort of 514.…”