Nursing Care of the Patient Undergoing an Anterior Approach to Total Hip Arthroplasty

The anterior, anterolateral, direct lateral, transtrochanteric, and posterior techniques have historically been the surgical approach to a total hip arthroplasty; however, a forthcoming technique called the direct anterior approach has been demonstrated to produce many patient and physician quality outcomes. These favorable outcomes can include shorter hospital stay, earlier mobility and functionality, decreased medical costs, and increased patient satisfaction scores. Appropriate nursing care during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases is essential. The purpose of this article is to describe the nursing care for a patient undergoing a direct anterior approach to hip arthroplasty.