COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN POSTERIOR AND LATERAL APPROACH OF TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY IN PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS.

The choice of the surgical exposure in total hip arthroplasties for osteoarthritis is a significant parameter for a successful outcome. The aim of this study is to evaluate complications or/and advantages related to the most often used approaches for total hip arthroplasties: the direct lateral or transgluteal (Hardinge) and the posterior (Moore) one. During the period 1997–2000, 50 patients with lateral approach and 50 patients with posterior approach were randomly selected from a pool of 394 total hip arthroplasties (382 patients). Patients with surgery of the contralateral hip were excluded. The mean age of the patients was 72 years (62–84 years) and the indication was degenerative osteoarthritis. The operating time and the postoperative, early and late, complications were studied. The average follow-up was 18 months (12–24 months) and included clinical and radiographic control. The mean operating time was 76 min. (63–91 min.) and 92 min. (83–110 min.) for lateral and posterior approach, respectively. Complications (early and late) associated with transgluteal approach were 16 patients with positive trendelenburg sign, which disappeared within one year post op, 8 with sympathetic knee effusion which subsided within 6 weeks, 2 with ectopic periarticular ossification and 1 with severe thigh pain. In total hip arthroplasties with posterior approaches, 4 cases were complicated with ectopic ossification, 3 with sympathetic knee effusion which subsided within 4 weeks, 2 with posterior dislocation which needed revision surgery and 2 with peroneal nerve paresis which recovered within 6 months. Except for the trendelenburg sign (p 0.05). In conclusion, the posterior approach seems to be related with more severe postoperative complications compared to the transgluteal approach. The gluteus medius’ loss of strength (responsible for limping in equal legs’ length), could be treated with prompt strengthening of the muscle within the first postoperative year.