Loading...
A lateral or posterior surgical approach to total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the traditional method. An anterior approach has been touted as more desirable because of earlier patient mobility, but excess risk for nerve injury, infection, and fracture has been reported. In this retrospective Canadian study of about 30,000 THA patients, 10% underwent surgery with an anterior approach and 90% underwent surgery with a lateral or posterior approach. Anterior-approach patients generally were younger and healthier.
Anterior-approach patients were matched by propensity score to the same number of lateral/posterior-approach patients. During 1 year of follow-up, major surgical complications (i.e., revision arthroplasty, deep space infection, or hip dis…