Pain and rehabilitation after total hip arthroplasty are approach dependent: results 6 weeks and 2 years after surgery in a multisurgeon, single-center, and prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was the evaluation of pain, function, and overall satisfaction after total hip arthroplasty (THA) using three different standard surgical approaches (DAA (direct anterior approach), lateral, and posterior approach) 2 years postoperatively. Additionally, we compared the results with recently published results of the same study population 6 weeks postoperatively.

METHODS

In a multisurgeon, prospective, single-center cohort study, a total of initial 188 patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) between February 2019 and April 2019 were analyzed on pain, function, and satisfaction within the first days, 6 weeks, and 2 years postoperatively according to three different approaches (DAA, lateral, and posterior approach). Our research group recently published results directly and 6 weeks postoperatively. We evaluated the same study collectively 2 years postoperatively and compared the results with the data 6 weeks postoperatively. One hundred twenty-five patients could be included. Outcome parameters for the present study were the pain level according to the visual analogue scale (VAS), the modified Harris hip score (mHHS), and an overall satisfaction scale 2 years postoperatively.

RESULTS

Mean overall satisfaction 2 years postoperatively was 9.7 ± 1 (3-10). Satisfaction was significantly better for the DAA than for the lateral approach (p = 0.005). There were no significant differences between the lateral and posterior approaches (p = 0.06) and between the DAA and the posterior approaches (p = 0.11). In total, the mean pain level was 0.4 ± 0.9 (0-5) at 6 weeks and 0.5 ± 1.1 (0-7) at 2 years postoperatively (p = 0.3). Regarding the different approach groups, pain levels 6 weeks and 2 years postoperatively were significantly lower for the DAA than for the lateral approach (p = 0.02). There were no significant differences between DAA and posterior approach (p = 0.05) and the lateral and posterior approach (p = 0.26). The mean mHHS significantly increased from 84.7 + 14.5 (37.4-100) 6 weeks to 95 + 12.5 (23.1-100.1) 2 years postoperatively (p < 0.0001). Regarding the different approaches, mHHS was significantly higher for the DAA than for the lateral approach (p = 0.03). Differences between the DAA and the posterior approach (p = 0.11) and between the lateral and posterior approaches (p = 0.24) were insignificant.

CONCLUSION

At 2 years postoperative, DAA showed significantly better overall satisfaction, pain level, and mHHS than the lateral approach. The differences between DAA and the posterior approach and lateral and posterior approaches were insignificant. Whether the superior results of the DAA to the lateral approach persist over a longer period must be clarified by further studies.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study, level of evidence 2.