Comparative retrospective study of the direct anterior and transgluteal approaches for primary total hip arthroplasty.

PURPOSE

The presented retrospective study compares clinical outcomes five years after total hip arthroplasty performed through a minimally invasive direct anterior approach and a direct transgluteal lateral approach.

METHODS

A total of 171 arthroplasties in 167 patients were evaluated utilizing the Harris hip score (HHS), the SF-36, a daily activity questionnaire, and the UCLA activity score.

RESULTS

The average HHS showed no significant difference equalling 91.4 points in the anterior group and 92.4 in the lateral group (p = 0.952). The SF-36 physical component scores were 50.7 (anterior) and 50.0 (lateral) while the psychometric properties added up to 48.6 (anterior) and 50.3 (lateral) with no significant differences evident (p = 0.782, p = 0.071). Daily activity was found to result in 4,855 (anterior) and 5,016 (lateral) cycles, respectively (p = 0.364). No difference regarding pain sensation was determined (p = 0.859). A significant difference was found for the UCLA score, which was calculated to be 5.9 in the anterior and 6.4 in the lateral approach group (p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

In summary, our mid-term results show comparable outcomes for both approaches regarding functionality, pain, quality of life and daily activity.