Objective:

Total hip arthroplasty is a common orthopedic procedures used in the treatment of diseases such as avascular necrosis or degenerative arthritis of femoral head and the acetabulum. Anterolateral (AL) and posterolateral (PL) approaches are commonly used for the hip joint. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of surgical exposure on radiological alignment of femoral and acetabular components in total hip arthroplasty.

Material and Methods:

Component alignments in total hip arthroplasty were compared radiologically in both AL and PL approaches that were applied by an experienced surgeon in a standard PL approach. 74 patients were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were revision arthroplasty, hip dysplasia, history of fracture or infection around the hip joint. Anteversion and inclination angles were measured for both femoral stem and acetabular cup by computed tomography (CT) on the first postoperative day. Distribution of data was evaluated by Komagrov simirnow test, and for comparison of quantitative values between the two groups independent samples t-test was used. The chi-square test was used to compare the qualitative value. P was set <0.05 as statistically significant.

Results:

There were 74 patients: 42 females and 32 males. Half of them were in PL, while the other half were in the AL group. Any significant difference was not noted in terms of age, acetabular inclination and anteversion of both components (p>0.05). Those who were operated by AL approach had a higher accuracy rate of acetabular anteversion (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

Any negative effect was not detected with AL approach by a PL approach familiar surgeon on component positioning in total hip arthroplasty.

Keywords: anterolateral approach, anteversion, inclination, posterolateral approach, total hip arthroplasty