Posterior approach to optimise patient-reported outcome from revision hip arthroplasty

Most total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in the UK are performed through a posterior or lateral surgical approach. We aimed to investigate any difference in outcome from revision THA according to the approach at primary and revision THA surgery.

A retrospective cohort study of 205 patients who underwent revision THA for aseptic loosening. Patients rated their pain from 0-10 and completed the Self-Administered Patient Satisfaction Scale (SAPS), Oxford Hip Score (OHS), WOMAC and Short form-12 questionnaires.

205 patients (209 hips) from a cohort of 238 patients (243 hips, 86%) were available for analysis. The mean follow-up was 5 years (SD 1.71). Grouping by approach 20% (43/209) had both primary and revision procedures via a lateral approach, 20% (43/209) had their primary surgery via a lateral approach and their revision surgery via a posterior approach, whilst 60% (123/209) had both procedures via a posterior approach.The WOMAC and OHS were significantly better in patients who had a posterior approach for both primary and revision surgery, compared to those that did not (OHS p = 0.028, WOMAC p = 0.026). We found no significant differences in pain, satisfaction or health-related quality of life between the groups.

Choice of approach for revision hip arthroplasty is influenced by a number of factors, but in clinical situations where either a lateral or posterior approach could be used, the posterior approach appears to be associated with better joint-specific outcomes. Registry data may help further explore the associations between surgical approach and the outcome from revision THA.