Minimally invasive posterolateral hip approach with SPARTAQUUS (Spare the Piriformis And Respect The Active QUadratus femoris and gluteus mediUS) technique

Abstract

Interest in the different surgical approaches to total hip arthroplasty remains high, but without any real consensus on which approach is the most beneficial. Several recent technical innovations have made it possible to reduce the risk of dislocation, therefore improving the efficacy of the posterolateral approach. Since 2003, we have been using a modified minimally invasive posterolateral approach called SPARTAQUUS (Spare the Piriformis And Respect The Active QUadratus femoris and gluteus mediUS), which spares the piriformis tendon, the quadratus femoris muscle and the gluteus medius muscle, and involves direct capsular repair. The “active posterosuperior hammock” effect of the piriformis tendon is therefore coupled with the “passive posterosuperior hammock” effect of the capsular repair, thus limiting the risks of posterior dislocation of the prosthetic hip joint.