Abstract
Economic data, clinical outcome studies, and anatomical studies continue to support the Superior Hip Approach as a preferred approach for improved safety, maximal tissue preservation, rapid recovery, and minimised cost.
Clinical studies show exceedingly low rates of all major complications including femur fracture, dislocation, and nerve injury.
Economic data from Q1 2013 to Q2 2016 demonstrate that CMS-insured patients treated by the Superior Hip Approach have the lowest cost of all patients treated in Massachusetts by an average of more than $7,000 over 90 days. The data show that the patients treated by the Superior Hip Approach have lower cost than any other surgical technique.
Matched-pair bioskills dissections demonstrate far better preservation of the hip joint capsule and short external rotators than the anterior approach.
Design principles include: Preservation of the abductors; Preservation of the posterior capsule and short external rotators; Preparation of the femur in situ prior to femoral neck osteotomy; Excision of the femoral head, thereby avoiding surgical dislocation of the hip; In-line access to the femoral shaft axis; Ability to perform a trial reduction; Independence from intra-operative imaging; Independence from a traction table; Applicable to at least 99% of THA procedures.
Conclusion
In contrast to the results of the Superior Approach, the anterior approach continues to show difficulties with wound problems, infection, intra- and post-operative fracture, and failure of femoral component osseointegration and even dislocation. Evidence continues to demonstrate that the Superior Hip Approach has advantages over all other surgical approaches to the hip.
