Perioperative Comparison of Hip Arthroplasty Using the Direct Anterior Approach with the Posterolateral Approach

The aim of the current study is to report the advantage and disadvantage of total hip arthroplasty performed in direct anterior approach (DAA) by comparing it to the posterolateral approach (PLA).

Twenty-five hip arthroplasty done in DAA (12 total hip arthroplasty [THA] and 13 bipolar hemiarthroplasty [BHA]) were compared with the same number done in PLA (13 THA and 12 BHA). Intraoperative assessments including operation time, anesthetic time, bleeding amount were recorded with intraoperative complications. Immediate postoperatively, position of the prosthesis and leg length discrepancy were measured and were compared between the two approaches.

The operation time was 22 minutes and 19 minutes longer in DAA for THA and BHA respectively while the anesthetic time difference was 26 and 10 respectively. However, these parameters showed no statistical difference. No significance was found when bleeding amount was compared. For DAA, cup alignment was within safe zone in 100% both for inclination and for anteversion while this was 83.3% and 75.0% respectively in PLA. Leg length difference was 3 mm in DAA and 5 mm in PLA but had no significant difference. Tensor fascia lata tear was the most common complication occurring in 9 patients.

Although significant was not reached there was trend toward more operation time and anesthetic time when DAA was used. However, the trend also showed that cup and stem were likely to be in more accurate position and in adequate size which is likely due to the accurate use of fluoroscopy.