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Minimal access surgery for total hip arthroplasty - current beliefs and activity profile in the UK
1Avon Orthopaedic Centre, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK. simonpwhite@blueyonder.co.uk
Introduction:
There is a strong drive from patients, industry and the media to perform total hip arthroplasty (THA) through a minimal access incision. Currently in the UK, the exact definition and uptake of this procedure is not known.
Patients And Methods:
A postal questionnaire was sent to all consultant orthopaedic surgeons in the UK registered with the British Orthopaedic Association.
Results:
Of those performing THA, 23% have performed minimal access hip surgery (MAS). Of users, 63% perform less than 20 cases per year, 62% use the mini-posterior approach, and 12% intend to perform MAS in the future. There is an association with specialisation. The mean and mode scar sizes for MAS were 9.9 cm and 10 cm, respectively.
Conclusions:
MAS is increasing in popularity but is currently performed in small numbers by those with a specialist interest in hip arthroplasty. Because no long-term results have been published regarding this procedure, it will be important to ensure that standards of implantation are not jeopardised and training remains critical. Cases should be registered with the National Joint Registry using the current definition of scar size less than 10 cm.
