Two-incision total hip replacement: Intra-operative fluoroscopy versus imageless navigation for cup placement

The purpose of this study was to describe the surgical technique and to investigate results of a modified two-incision total hip replacement using either intraoperative fluoroscopy or imageless navigation. Twenty-nine patients (30 hips) with a minimum follow-up of one year were enrolled in this study. The patients were evaluated at 3, 6, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1-year. The functional recovery as represented by the Harris hip score and WOMAC scale were better in the fluoroscopy group of patients at the early postoperative stage (3 wks). Thereafter, both groups showed rapid recovery with no difference in scores. Injury to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was the most commonly seen complication and it occurred in 6 hips (fluoroscopy 2; imageless 4). The symptoms were transient and resolved in 6 months in all 6 cases. This study demonstrated that the role of intraoperative fluoroscopy could safely be replaced by an imageless navigation system for the MIS-2 THA.