A new anterolateral surgical approach for total hip replacement.

Abstract

the purpose of the present paper is to present the short-term results of a "detachment-free" (DF) anterolateral approach for primary total hip replacement (THR) performed in a large series of patients. two hundred patients submitted to primary THR were retrospectively reviewed for the present study. In all cases, the surgery was performed using a minimally invasive DF anterolateral approach, which entails no disconnection of tendons and no muscle damage. The study population consisted of 96 men (48%) and 104 women (52%), with an average age of 69.4 years (range 38-75). Clinical and radiographic follow-up was performed after 12 months. the clinical results, evaluated using the Harris Hip Score, were excellent in 95% of the cases and good in 5%; no cases had fair or poor results. X-rays taken at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery did not show heterotopic ossification, mobilization of the prosthetic components, or hip dislocation. No infections, deep vein thrombosis, or failure of the gluteal muscles were reported. the DF anterolateral approach for THR proved safe and provided effective results at short-term follow-up. Level IV, therapeutic case series.