Abstract
Background
Over 35% of surgeons in the United States, and 10% in Canada use the direct anterior approach for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Some of the key barriers in its wider adoption are the learning curve and associated increased risk of adverse events. The purpose of this study was to determine the adoption rate as well as 90-day re-admission and adverse event of the anterior approach in a community-based hospital.
Methods
From December 2015 to August 2018, two laterally based approach senior orthopaedic surgeons with over 20 years of practice performed 319 primary total hip replacements, with 164 being done through the anterior approach and 155 through the lateral approach. All but 8 of the anterior approaches were done on a regular operating table.
Results
The anterior and lateral approach groups were comparable in age with mean 69.1+/− 10.2 and 68.9+/−9.3, respectively (p= 0.886), however the anterior group had patients with a statistically significantly lower BMI than the lateral group with mean 28.2+/−5.4 and 31.0+/−6.3, respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a much lower percentage of females in the anterior group than in the lateral group with 49.4% and 65.2%, respectively (p= 0.004). It took surgeon A and B 12 and 24 months for the anterior approach to represent over 50% of their monthly cases, respectively. The anterior approach now accounts for approximately 80% of surgeon A's practice and 100% in surgeon B's practice in the last 6 and 18 months, respectively. Intraoperative adverse events were comparable between anterior and lateral approaches, with one incidence in each group (p= 0.968), however post-operative adverse events were more prevalent in the lateral group (n= 24) when compared to anterior group (n= 11) (p= 0.012). Further details of both approaches are provided in figure 1.
Conclusion
Within a well-structured environment, the anterior approach can be safely introduced into a community-based practice. The progressive adoption of a new surgical technique combined with more experienced surgeon as a resource is an effective way that requires further study.
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