Functional Recovery After Hip Arthroplasty with a Minimal Invasive or Classical Approach Eight Years After...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Rehabilitative Medicine
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common procedure for hip joint issues.
• Surgical approach choice may influence long-term functional recovery.
• Investigating long-term outcomes of different THA approaches is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare functional recovery 8 years post-THA between classic lateral and anterolateral minimally invasive approaches.
• To assess differences in range of motion, muscle strength, and functional performance.
• To explore correlations between body mass index, physical activity, and functional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 68 patients (32 classic lateral, 36 anterolateral minimally invasive) underwent 8-year follow-up.
• Evaluations included Harris Hip Score (HHS), range of motion, abductor strength, 50-m walk time, BMI, physical activity, and pain (VAS).

Main Results:

• The minimally invasive group showed significantly higher HHS, hip abduction, and hip flexion range of motion.
• Correlations were found between physical activity and hip abduction strength (classic) or HHS (minimally invasive).
• Body mass index correlated with 50-m walk time in both groups and negatively with hip flexion in the minimally invasive group.

Conclusions:

• Eight years after THA, the anterolateral minimally invasive approach demonstrated superior functional abilities and higher HHS compared to the classic lateral approach.
• No significant difference in functional outcome related to BMI was observed between the two groups.
• The minimally invasive approach offers distinct advantages for patient functional recovery post-THA.