'On Table' Versus 'Off Table' Direct Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty: Is There a Difference?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Arthroplasty
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Direct anterior approach (DAA) for total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common surgical technique.
• The choice of operating room table may influence surgical efficiency and patient outcomes.
• Evaluating outcomes based on table type is crucial for optimizing THA procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient-reported outcomes, operative times, satisfaction, and complications.
• To assess differences in DAA THA performed on a specialized traction table versus a regular operating table.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study including 322 patients undergoing DAA THA.
• Comparison between patients operated on a specialized table (n=217) and a regular table (n=105).
• Outcomes assessed included patient-reported measures, satisfaction, operative times, and complication rates at 1-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in patient-reported outcomes at 4 months and 1 year postoperatively.
• Operative times (87 vs. 90 minutes) and in-room times (123 vs. 120 minutes) were comparable between groups.
• Satisfaction rates and complication rates did not differ significantly between the specialized and regular table groups.

Conclusions:

• DAA THA can be performed safely and effectively on both specialized traction and regular operating tables.
• Surgeons can select the table setup they are most comfortable with to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
• The findings support the versatility of the DAA THA technique regardless of the operating table used.