Anterior vs. posterior: Does surgical approach impact hip replacement outcomes?

Anterior vs. posterior: Does surgical approach impact hip replacement outcomes?

The surgical approach to total hip replacement (THR)—either from the front of the body or the side/back (anterior versus posterior)—has no impact on outcomes six months after surgery, according to research presented today at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Total hip replacement is extremely common with more than 300,000 surgeries performed in the U.S. each year. Traditionally, most THRs have been done through a posterior approach, where the surgeon accesses the hip through the side or buttocks. More recently, anterior approach surgeries, where the surgeon enters the body through the front of the hip, have gained popularity. However, there remains a great deal of conflicting information as to which approach results in the best outcomes, in the least amount of time following surgery.

Source: Medical Xpress

Read more