Bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty: Outcomes of Staged Versus Simultaneous Procedures Performed Using an Anterior-Based Muscle-Sparing Approach.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the United States continues to increase due to its ability to markedly improve patients' quality of life. This study investigated and compared the perioperative and postoperative outcomes of simultaneous (SI-THA) and staged (ST-THA) bilateral THA procedures using an anterior-based muscle-sparing (ABMS) approach. METHODS: This retrospective case control study evaluated perioperative and postoperative outcomes from primary bilateral SI-THA or ST-THA (within 365 days) performed with the ABMS approach by 3 surgeons at a single institution between January 2013 and August 2020. A total of 226 patients (113 in each cohort) were matched based on age, sex, body mass index, and comorbidity score. RESULTS: Compared to the ST-THA group, the SI-THA had shorter anesthesia duration (P < .001) and shorter length of stay (P < .001), but longer length of surgery (P = .002). There was no statistical significance between groups in blood transfusion rates, discharge dispositions, emergency department visits, hospital readmissions, or postoperative complications within one year. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that SI-THA and ST-THA yield comparable results using the ABMS approach. Our perioperative and postoperative results suggest low rates of complications, emergency department visits, readmissions, and high rates of patient satisfaction scores. Therefore, both SI-THA and ST-THA can be considered by experienced surgeons as treatment for advanced bilateral hip arthritis.

Clinical Outcomes of Total Hip Arthroplasty With the Anterolateral Modified Watson-Jones Approach for Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures.

Objective: In recent years, many studies have reported good results with total hip arthroplasty (THA) for displaced femoral neck fractures (FNFs). However, no study has reported the clinical outcomes of the anterolateral modified Watson-Jones THA (MWJ-THA) for displaced FNFs. This study aimed to investigate the clinical results of THA for displaced FNFs at our hospital and to discuss the advantages of MWJ-THA over THA with other approaches for displaced FNFs. Methods: Forty-three patients who underwent MWJ-THA for displaced FNFs were included in this study. Patient characteristics, preinjury walking ability, activities of daily living, implants used, walking ability (at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery), cup placement angle, clinical hip score, surgical complications, revision surgery, and death within 1 year after surgery were investigated. Results: The mean age of the 43 patients was 63.3 years, and the mean body mass index (kg/m2) was 21.1. Regarding the heads used, 28-mm heads were used in 4 patients, 32-mm heads were used in 32 patients, and 36-mm heads were used in 7 patients. The cups were placed in the Lewinnek safety zone (93.0%). Four patients had stem sinkage of a few millimeters. 6 months postoperatively, 38 patients walked unaided, and 4 patients walked with a cane. The Harris Hip Score averaged over 90 points at all time points. No postoperative dislocation was observed. Two patients died within 1 year postoperatively. Conclusion: In this study, MWJ-THA was performed for displaced FNFs and resulted in no postoperative dislocations. Furthermore, more than 90% of the patients regained their preinjury walking ability at 6 months postoperatively. MWJ-THA has great dislocation control and is effective in treating displaced FNFs.

The ABLE Anterior-Based Muscle-Sparing Approach: A Safe and Effective Option for Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: The direct anterior and posterior approaches are well-researched options in total hip arthroplasty (THA). The less-studied anterior-based muscle-sparing approach, also known as the ABLE advanced anterior approach, centers on minimizing surgical trauma and medical costs while maintaining or improving patient outcomes. Material and methods: THAs performed using the ABLE approach by 3 surgeons at a single institution between January 2013 and August 2020 were retrospectively assessed for outcomes pertaining to safety and performance intraoperatively, perioperatively, and postoperatively. Additionally, intraoperative and postoperative complications were evaluated, and patient-reported outcome measures and radiographic outcomes out to 1-year follow-up. Results: There were 6251 THAs (5433 patients) eligible for inclusion. The mean surgical time was 65 minutes, mean intraoperative blood loss was 204 mL, and the transfusion rate was 0.5%. Patients had a mean length of stay of 1.4 days. Overall, 93.4% of patients were discharged home, 1.9% visited the emergency department within 30 days, and 2.9% had an unplanned readmission to the hospital within 90 days. The overall major surgical complication rate was 1.18%, with a dislocation rate of 0.13%, a deep infection rate of 0.19%, and a postoperative periprosthetic fracture rate of 0.37%. Conclusions: The minimally invasive ABLE approach is a safe and effective surgical approach for patients undergoing THA. It can be performed efficiently and with limited complications, making it an appealing option for surgeons to utilize during this era of value-based care.

Short stature and short distance between the anterior acetabular rim to the femoral nerve are risk factors for femoral nerve palsy following primary total hip arthroplasty using the modified Watson-Jones approach.

BACKGROUND: Nerve palsy following total hip arthroplasty (THA) critically impacts patient clinical function. However, few studies have focused on femoral nerve palsy (FNP) following THA via the modified Watson-Jones approach. Previous reports have suggested that THA, regardless of the approach, is associated with several FNP risk factors, including female gender, hip dysplasia, revision surgery, and short stature. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has suggested that a shorter distance between the femoral nerve and the anterior acetabular edge (dFN) is related to FNP after THA. The purposes of this study were: 1) to determine the presumed risk factors through a retrospective investigation of FNP clinical courses, and 2) to identify the relationships between FNP occurrence and the short dFN following primary THA via the modified Watson-Jones approach. HYPOTHESIS: Short stature is a risk factor for femoral nerve palsy following THA. i.e. a significant difference in dFN exists between patients with and without FNP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective case-control study was performed at a single university hospital. From January 2016 to December 2020, 676 THAs were performed via the modified Watson-Jones approach at our institution. These included 495 THAs performed in the supine position and 181 in the lateral position. In this study, FNP was defined as weakness of the quadriceps femoris (manual muscle test

MRI assessment of minimally invasive anterolateral approaches in total hip arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) on a minimally invasive anterolateral (MIAL) approach frequently leads to gluteus minimus and gluteus medius lesions, and sometimes to tensor fasciae latae (TFL) denervation. We therefore developed compensatory strategies, which we assessed on pre- and post-operative MRI: 1) to assess gluteus minimus and gluteus medius fatty infiltration (FI), 2) to assess TFL FI, and 3) to assess FI in the other periarticular muscles. HYPOTHESIS: The modified MIAL approach reduces the rate of gluteus minimus and gluteus medius lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A continuous prospective single-surgeon series of THA using a MIAL approach included 25 patients. Femoral implantation was performed with the hip in extension so as to distance the proximal femur from the gluteals, avoiding muscle trauma. The superior gluteal nerve branch in the space between the gluteus medius and TFL, running toward the TFL, was systematically released and protected. MRI was performed preoperatively and at 3 months and 1 year post-surgery. FI was analyzed according to the Goutallier classification in all periarticular muscles. RESULTS: One patient lacked preoperative MRI and was excluded, leaving 24 patients, for 72 MRIs. In 10/24 patients (41.7%) the gluteus minimus and in 8/24 patients (33.3%) the anterior third of the gluteus medius showed ≥2 grade increase in FI between preoperative and 1-year MRI, with significant increases in both at 3 months (p<0.001) and 1 year (p<0.001). At least a 2 grade increase in FI at 1 year was seen in 1 patient (4.2%) in the TFL, in 2 (8.3%) in the piriformis, and in 1 (4.2%) in the obturator internus. There were no significant differences in FI between preoperative, 3-month or 1-year MRI in any other periarticular muscles. CONCLUSION: Femoral implantation in hip extension did not reduce the rate of gluteal lesions, which remained frequent. In contrast, release of the superior gluteal nerve branch could be effective in conserving TFL innervation. Some rare lesions of the proximal part of the pelvi-trochanteric muscles were also observed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, Prospective case series.

Management of femoral neck fractures with the ALMIS approach in elderly patients: Outcomes compared to posterior approach.

INTRODUCTION: Over the last 2 decades, several minimally invasive surgical techniques and approaches have been introduced for hip arthroplasty, including anterolateral minimally invasive surgery (ALMIS) introduced by Röttinger in 2004. As described, this muscle sparing approach promises faster recovery and lower dislocation rates. Although there has been a peaked recent interest in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) hip arthroplasty, few studies support the superiority of ALMIS compared to the more traditional posterior approach. The present study examines the safety and early complications of elderly patients undergoing ALMIS compared to a posterior approach for hemiarthroplasty of displaced femoral neck fractures. METHODS: In a retrograde level III case-control study, 100 consecutive elderly patients with primary hip arthroplasty were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 50 consecutive cases operated with the ALMIS approach and the second group of 50 consecutive cases operated through a posterior approach. Operative time, postoperative complication rates, length of hospitalization, blood loss, and leg-length discrepancy, were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: No differences were observed in post-operative complications. Overall, the operative time was significantly greater in the ALMIS group compared to the posterior approach group (75 ± 12 vs 67.5 ± 16 min, respectively; p ≤ 0.01). However, the operating time of the second half of the ALMIS cohort (N = 25), did not differ from the posterior approach group (72.7 ± 10.5 vs 67.5 ± 16, respectively; p = 0.19). Leg length discrepancy was significantly less in the ALMIS group compared to the posterior exposure group (1.5 ± 3.2 vs 3.2 ± 3.3, respectively; P≤0.1). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the retrograde analysis, although limited in sample size, shows no major differences in ALMIS compared to a more traditional posterior approach in terms of immediate post-operative complications. Although the overall operating time was longer in the patients treated with ALMIS, the second cohort of patients treated with this method had an operating time that was similar to that observed with posterior approach. Leg-length discrepancies were significantly less in patients treated with ALMIS.

Cup alignment in total hip arthroplasty using the muscle-sparing modified Watson-Jones approach-comparison between lateral and supine positions.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to compare the cup alignment outliers in total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the same surgical approach with the patient in the supine position versus the lateral position. METHODS: THA using the muscle-sparing modified Watson-Jones approach was performed in 142 consecutive hips. THA was performed with the patient in the lateral position in 84 hips (lateral group) and in the supine position in 58 hips (supine group). The cup alignment was aimed at 40° inclination and 20° anteversion by referring to the mechanical alignment guide. Cup alignment and outliers (10° > aimed alignment) were assessed using post-operative 3D-CT. RESULTS: The absolute error from the aimed inclination was 6.0 ± 4.7° in the supine group and 4.2 ± 3.6° in the lateral group (p = 0.01). The absolute error from the aimed anteversion was 4.1 ± 3.2° in the supine group and 5.1 ± 3.7° in the lateral group (p = 0.12). The supine group showed a higher rate of outliers than the lateral group for the cup inclination (22% vs 5%; p < 0.01). Inclination and BMI were positively correlated in the spine position group (p < 0.01, R = 0.48), but were not correlated in the lateral position group. CONCLUSION: THA performed with the patient in the supine position has a higher risk of outliers of cup alignment compared with the lateral position, even when the same surgical approach is used. BMI affected the cup inclination in the supine position.

Differences in activities of daily living after hip arthroplasty among hip resurfacing, anterolateral THA, and posterolateral THA: a propensity score matched analysis.

The aim was to elucidate the differences in activities of daily living (ADL) after hip arthroplasty among hip resurfacing (HRA), anterolateral total hip arthroplasty (AL-THA), and posterolateral THA (PL-THA) patients after age, sex, body mass index, bilateral/unilateral hip arthroplasty, and postoperative duration were matched using propensity scores. A total of 673 hips from 540 consecutive patients who underwent hip arthroplasty were included. A self-completed questionnaire on preoperative and postoperative ADLs was administered during postsurgical visits at least ≥ 4 years postoperatively. Between HRA and PL-THA patients, the numbers of patients who performed heels-down squatting was significantly more in HRA than in PL-THA. Between AL-THA and PL-THA patients, there were significant differences in postoperative ADLs including bathing in a bathtub, riding on a train/bus, cutting toenails, bowing while straight sitting, heels-up/down squatting, riding on a bicycle, driving a car, and domestic travel. There were no significant differences in postoperative ADLs between ≥ 36 mm head and ≤ 32 mm head PL-THA patients, and between AL-THA and HRA patients. This propensity score matched study indicated that AL-THA and HRA patients were more active postoperatively than PL-THA patients.

Is the alignment guide technique in total hip arthroplasty sufficient for accurate cup positioning with a modified Watson Jones approach?

PURPOSE:: Cup setting with only an alignment guide has been reported to be inaccurate in the lateral decubitus position in total hip arthroplasty (THA). We assessed the accuracy of cup positioning using only the alignment guide technique via a modified Watson Jones approach in the lateral decubitus position. METHODS:: Two hundred hips of 189 patients underwent THA from October 2014 to September 2016 via a modified Watson Jones approach. In the final sample, 181 hips of 171 patients (35 males, 136 females) were included in this investigation. The alignment of the cup was evaluated by an anteroposterior radiograph of the pelvis 1 week after surgery. Measurements were divided into safe zone determined by Callanan and Lewinnek. RESULTS:: There were 168 (92.8%) acetabular cups that were placed within the safe zone for both inclination and anteversion based on the safe zones defined by Lewinnek, and 134 (74%) acetabular cups that were placed within the safe zone defined by Callanan. Multiple logistic analysis showed that the laterality and the addition of the confirmation method were indicators for malpositioning of combined inclination and anteversion. CONCLUSION:: Our data suggested that even if special tools were not used in the lateral decubitus position, using only the alignment guide enabled cup positioning to be achieved with 92.8% accuracy in the Lewinnek safe zone and 74% accuracy in the Callanan safe zone. Multiple logistic analysis showed that the laterality and the addition of a confirmation alignment guide influenced the accuracy of cup positioning.