Intraoperative muscle damage in total hip arthroplasty

Tenderness in the medial and posterior thigh is sometimes observed during the early postoperative period after total hip arthroplasty (THA). In this study, the possible correlations of preoperative hip range of motion, surgical approach, and limb lengthening with postoperative muscle strain injury in THA were investigated. Sixty primary THA patients given the posterolateral approach or direct-lateral approach were examined. For comparison of the muscle strain injury in the 2 groups, we used magnetic resonance imaging. There were significant differences in postoperative thigh pain between cases in the posterolateral group with reduction of internal rotation and those with no reduction, and between cases in the direct-lateral group with reduction of external rotation and those with no reduction.