Direct anterior total hip arthroplasty: complications and early outcome in a series of 300 cases.

The direct anterior approach for total hip arthroplasty has gained popularity throughout the last decade. Early reports showed successful results with rapid functional recovery and low dislocation rates. However there is some concern about the high number of complications induced by the technique. The aim of this study was to examine the early radiological outcome and perioperative complications in a consecutive series of 300 total hip arthroplasties performed through a minimal invasive anterior approach with the aid of a positioning table. We observed 9(3%) intra-operative complications : two femoral perforations, 4 calcar fractures and 3 greater trochanter fractures. There were 42 (14%) postoperative complications and 20 (6.7%) patients required a surgical re-intervention. Our major finding was early peri-prosthetic femoral fracture in 5 patients, not noticed during surgery. The dislocation ratio (2 cases, 0.66%) was low. The complication ratio decreased throughout our series, but statistical significance could not be shown (p = 0.26). Surgeons should be aware of the high risk of occult intra-operative fractures when starting with this technique.