Comparison of angle of femoral anteversion after total hip replacements through the anterior and posterior approaches

Abstract

Background: Excessive anteversion or retroversion of femoral component may cause arthroplasty to become unstable. Method: In this study, we calculated the anteversion angle of the femoral neck in thirty non operated (control) hips on both sides by biplanar roentgenography and using the average angle obtained as standard, compared the anteversion angle of the femoral component in thirty patients (both males and females) who had undergone total hip arthroplasty (cemented or uncemented) through anterior and posterior approaches. Results: The average femoral anteversion angle in hips that had undergone total hip replacement through the posterior approach was 18.18 degrees which closely paralleled that of the controls which was 16.31 degrees suggesting that the operating surgeon had a better control over femoral neck anteversion through the posterior approach than the anterior approach in which the average anteversion angle was 9.3607degrees. Conclusion: Operating surgeon had a better control on femoral neck anteversion through the posterior approach as he can position the femoral neck in significantly lesser degrees of anteversion.