DIRECT ANTERIOR APPROACH FOR HIP ARTHROPLASTY: AN UNSELECTED SINGLE SURGEON EXPERIENCE

Introduction: Less invasive hip arthroplasty has been promoted since 2002 but with few reports having follow-up data. Existing information is often from developer-surgeons, selecting patients and investigating only the immediate post-operative course. More complete and less biased information is needed. Methods: This prospective series, 275 hips done consecutively beginning April 2003, by a single surgeon using the direct anterior approach first described by Robert Judet, is entirely unselected: 31% obese, 16% over 80, but 22% Charnley category A. Follow-up is at least 2 years. Standardized hip scores and radiographic measurements were obtained regularly. Result: Nine re-operations (3.5%) were required: 2 infections (0.8%), 6 component failures (2%) and 2 superficial wound infections (1%). There were 3 dislocations (1.2%). Charnley Merle d’Aubigne, WOMAC and Harris Hip Scores improved significantly (p=0.001 for each) and component positioning was reproducible. Over 80% of these patients were discharged directly home after an average length of stay 2.2 days. Walking without assistance averaged 4 weeks; return to work 6 weeks. Surgical time and hospital stay decreased significantly during the time of study (p = 0.001 for each). Discussion: Given the excellent result from conventional hip arthroplasty, a change in technique might, at best, slightly benefit most patients at the risk of greatly harming a few. This report suggests that the single incision direct anterior approach is applicable to all THA patients, early recovery is acceptable, and a reasonable learning curve exists; but early complications may be increased when compared to the best experience using traditional approaches.