Recently (February 24 and 25 of 2012), I moderated a course in Las Vegas, Nevada regarding anterior approach total hip replacement. The faculty, including Dr. Joel Matta, an early adapter of the anterior approach THA, discussed techniques and results using this approach. It has been widely acknowledged that the anterior approach hip disrupts less soft tissue and, therefore, has the potential to speed recovery and improve function early on.
As previously noted, I presented a paper at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons annual meeting in San Francisco, California, in February 2012 outlining our results with a prospective randomized study comparing direct anterior approach to a posterior approach for total hip replacement. There were significant benefits with regard to pain relief and function early on after an anterior approach total hip. These benefits continued for the first 3 months after surgery. Individual patient stories support this clinical finding in the patients who have had a previous posterior approach and subsequently underwent an anterior approach and were surprised at the speed of recovery and ease of returning to work. This approach is not for every patient, and learning the technique can be time consuming. The results continue to be quite gratifying, and as indicated by the number of participants in this recent course, there is increased interest nationwide in adopting the anterior approach for total hip replacement.
—William P. Barrett, MD
