Aims

Professional dancers represent a unique patient population in the setting of hip arthroplasty, given the high degree of hip strength and mobility required by their profession. We sought to determine the clinical outcomes and ability to return to professional dance after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA).

Competitive dancers represent a unique patient population in the setting of hip arthroplasty given the high degree of hip strength and mobility required by their profession. We sought to determine the clinical outcomes and ability to return to competitive dance after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) among competitive dancers.

Active competitive dancers who underwent primary THA or HRA at a single institution with minimum one-year follow-up were included in the study. Primary outcomes included (1) the rate of return to competitive dance, (2) three PROMs (modified Harris Hip Score [mHHS], Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement [HOOS-JR], and Lower Extremity Activity Scale [LEAS]), and (3) post-operative complications.

Forty-nine hips in 39 patients (mean age 56±13 years; 80% female) were included. Mean follow-up was 4.9±5.1 years. Thirty-seven THAs and 12 HRAs were performed. Ninety-six percent of patients returned to competitive dance activities post-operatively. With respect to PROMs, there were statistically significant improvements in mHHS, HOOS-JR, and LEAS from baseline to ≥ 1 year post-operatively. There were complications in 9/49 (18%) hips post-operatively, five (10%) of which required revision surgery.

Active competitive dancers experienced significant improvements in functional outcome scores after THA or HRA, with a rate of return to competitive dance of 96%.