EARLY OUTCOME OF TOTAL HIP-ARTHROPLASTY USING THE DIRECT LATERAL VS THE POSTERIOR SURGICAL APPROACH

A consecutive series of 49 patients who had a primary total hip arthro plasty:(THA) for osteoarthritis is reviewed to determine the differenc es in clinical outcome between the direct lateral and the posterior su rgical approaches to the hip. Group 1 comprised 28 patients who had TH A by the same surgeon using a posterolateral approach. Group 2 compris ed 21 patients who had THA using the direct lateral approach, modified from Hardinge. The improvement in the limp, abductor strength, Trende lenburg test, and range of motion over time was similar in the two gro ups. The average Harris hip score at 1 year was 90 for Group 1 (poster ior approach) and Group 2 (lateral approach). At 2-year minimum follow up, the Harris hip score was 94 for both groups. Radiographic review showed that the incidence and severity of heterotopic bone was also si milar for both groups. The authors conclude that the clinical and radi ographic outcome for THA using the posterior and the lateral approache s to the hip yield similar clinical results.