[Minimally invasive surgery for total hip arthroplasty. A review of 36 cases]

A new approach has been developed recently that considerable decreases the size of the skin incision and that has led to controversy around the advantages it offers.

To analyze the immediate postoperative course of patients considering the following parameters: operative time, blood loss, postoperative pain. To report the complications that occurred.

Thirty six patients, with a mean age of 48 years, with a diagnosis of grade IV coxarthrosis. Twenty-four patients underwent uncemented total hip arthroplasty, and 12 total hybrid hip arthroplasty. The preoperative Harris clinical assessment was applied and a lateral approach was used in all cases. The initial incision was 6 cm long (100%).

The final incision was 6.5 cm in 26 patients (72.22%), 7 cm in 10 patients. Necrosis of wound commissures occurred in 12 patients, superficial necrosis of wound margins in 10 patients; no wound infections were reported. The mean operative time was 65 minutes for uncemented hips and 80 minutes for hybrid hips. Mean intraoperative bleeding was 150 ml. Mean postoperative pain was 3 in the VAS. Complications included performing a neo-acetabulum in one case, and a false passage of the femur component in one case.

The minimally invasive approach for total hip replacement is indicated for patients with special characteristics. It is less invasive, safe, involves minimal bleeding, shorter operative time, and is reproducible. Moreover, it offers significant benefits during the immediate postoperative period when compared with the standard incision, since it involves ess pain and mobility is resumed sooner.