Early functional recovery of direct anterior approach versus anterolateral approach for total hip arthroplasty

Abstract

To evaluate the early clinical effects of direct anterior approach (DAA) versus anterolateral approach (ALA) on safety and functional recovery following total hip arthroplasty (THA). Between January 2015 and May 2016, a randomized clinical trial was performed at Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital. A total of 50 patients who underwent THA were allocated for either the DAA (n=25) or ALA (n=25). DDA group had 25 patients (25 hips), including 16 males and 9 females, with the mean age of (62±2) years, BMI of (23.26 ±4.95) kg/m2(range: 19.6 to 29.5), and preoperative Harris score of (33.4 ±15.5) (range: 17.9 to 48.9). Eleven cases were diagnosed as primarily hip osteoarthritis, 4 were developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH, Crowe 2) and 10 were hip avascular necrosis (AVN, Stages 3 to 4). ALA group had 25 patients (25 hips), including 18 males and 7 females, with the mean age of (59±3) years, BMI of (25.35 ±5.8) kg/m2(range: 18.2 to 29.8), and preoperative Harris score of (38.6 ± 16.7) (range: 23.1 to 56.5). Ten cases were diagnosed as primarily hip osteoarthritis, 3 were developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH, Crowe 2) and 12 were hip avascular necrosis (AVN, Stages 3 to 4). Operation time, incision length, intra-operative blood loss and functional recovery of hip postoperatively were compared between the two groups. The surgical incision of both groups were stage I healing. The mean follow-up was 6 months. There was no significant difference regarding operation time, incision length, and intra-operative blood loss between the two groups. However, we also found that there was no significant difference in the Harris score 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. In addition, two patients in ALA group suffered claudication (physical examination: abduction dysfunction of hip). We also found that DAA group resulted in better recovery of abductor strength and gait than ALA group during early follow-up. Both DAA and ALA could obtain good results of early curative effect following THA. Moreover, DAA resulted in better gait than ALA during early follow-up.