No difference in outcomes between golfers and non-golfers undergoing total ankle replacements

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Sports medicine

Background:

• Outcomes of total ankle replacement (TAR) specifically in golfers are not well-documented.
• Previous studies have not focused on the return-to-sport rates for golfers post-TAR.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if golfers achieve similar functional improvements after TAR compared to non-golfers.
• To assess differences in health-related quality of life and return-to-golf rates between golfers and non-golfers.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.
• Inclusion of 19 golfers and 144 non-golfers who underwent TAR.
• Measurement of outcomes using the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) and EQ5D3L, alongside patient satisfaction and return-to-golf data.

Main Results:

• Golfers demonstrated significantly better preoperative and postoperative MOXFQ scores.
• No significant difference was found in the mean change of MOXFQ scores between golfers and non-golfers.
• Postoperative EQ5D3L scores were comparable, and high return-to-golf rates (52% within 6 months, 79% within 1 year) were observed.

Conclusions:

• Golfers experience comparable functional improvements following total ankle replacement.
• High rates of return to golf post-TAR suggest its viability for this patient group.
• Findings can aid in preoperative counseling and expectation management for golfers considering TAR.