Hip abductor strength following total hip arthroplasty - A prospective comparison of the posterior and lateral approach in 100 patients

We studied the hip abductor strength and Trendelenburg test prospectively i n 100 patients undergoing total hip replacement via a lateral or posterior approach. In 49 patients, we used the lateral approach to implant the Charn ley total hip replacement, and in 51 patients, the posterior approach to im plant the Exeter total hip, Isometric abductor strength was measured with the kinetic communicator devi ce and the Trendelenburg test was recorded preoperatively and at 3 and 12 m onths postoperatively, Of the original 100 patients, 83 were available for study at 3 months and 73 at 12 months, Hip abductor strength and the Trendelenburg test improved postoperatively i n both groups, but we found no difference in hip abductor strength recovery at 3 and 12 months between the lateral approach and the posterior approach , Similarly there was no difference in the Trendelenburg test between the t wo groups 3 and 12 months following hip replacement.