Total hip arthroplasty using two-incision technique

Which approach of total hip arthroplasty is the best efficacy and least complication?

BACKGROUND

Total hip arthroplasty is as an effective intervention to relieve pain and improve hip function. Approaches of the hip have been exhaustively explored about pros and cons. The efficacy and the complications of hip approaches remains inconclusive. This study conducted an umbrella review to systematically appraise previous meta-analysis (MAs) including conventional posterior approach (PA), and minimally invasive surgeries as the lateral approach (LA), direct anterior approach (DAA), 2-incisions method, mini-lateral approach and the newest technique direct superior approach (DSA) or supercapsular percutaneously-assisted total hip (SuperPath).

AIM

To compare the efficacy and complications of hip approaches that have been published in all MAs and randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

METHODS

MAs were identified from MEDLINE and Scopus from inception until 2023. RCTs were then updated from the latest MA to September 2023. This study included studies which compared hip approaches and reported at least one outcome such as Harris Hip Score (HHS), dislocation, intra-operative fracture, wound complication, nerve injury, operative time, operative blood loss, length of hospital stay, incision length and VAS pain. Data were independently selected, extracted and assessed by two reviewers. Network MA and cluster rank and surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) were estimated for treatment efficacy and safety.

RESULTS

Finally, twenty-eight MAs (40 RCTs), and 13 RCTs were retrieved. In total 47 RCTs were included for reanalysis. The results of corrected covered area showed high degree (13.80%). Among 47 RCTs, most of the studies were low risk of bias in part of random process and outcome reporting, while other domains were medium to high risk of bias. DAA significantly provided higher HHS at three months than PA [pooled unstandardized mean difference (USMD): 3.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.98, 6.00 with SUCRA: 85.9], followed by DSA/SuperPath (USMD: 1.57, 95%CI: -1.55, 4.69 with SUCRA: 57.6). All approaches had indifferent dislocation and intraoperative fracture rates. SUCRA comparing early functional outcome and composite complications (dislocation, intra-operative fracture, wound complication, and nerve injury) found DAA was the best approach followed by DSA/SuperPath.

CONCLUSION

DSA/SuperPath had better earlier functional outcome than PA, but still could not overcome the result of DAA. This technique might be the other preferred option with acceptable complications.

Factors influencing the outcomes of minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review

Introduction

The present systematic review investigated possible factors which may influence the surgical outcome of minimally invasive surgery for total hip arthroplasty (MIS THA).

Methods

In January 2022, the Embase, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases were accessed. All the clinical trials investigating the clinical outcome of MIS THA were considered.

Results

Data from 9486 procedures were collected. Older age was moderately associated with greater Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (P = 0.02) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) (P = 0.009) at last follow-up, and shorter surgical duration (P = 0.01). Greater body mass index (BMI) at baseline was moderately associated with greater cup anteversion (P = 0.0009), Oxford Hip Score (OHS) at last follow-up (P = 0.04), longer surgical duration (P = 0.04), increased leg length discrepancy (P = 0.02), and greater rate of infection (P = 0.04). Greater VAS at baseline was weakly associated with greater VAS at last follow-up (P < 0.0001), total estimated blood lost (P = 0.01), and lower value of Harris Hip Score (HHS) (P = 0.0005). Greater OHS at baseline was associated with greater post-operative VAS (P = 0.01). Greater WOMAC at baseline was associated with lower cup anteversion (P = 0.009) and greater VAS (P = 0.02). Greater HHS at baseline was associated with shorter hospitalisation (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Older age and greater BMI may represent negative prognostic factors for MIS THA. The clinical outcome is strongly influenced by the preoperative status of patients.

Early Experience of Direct Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty: Analysis of the First 53 Cases

Purpose

To determine if it is feasible and safe for a surgeon to transition from using the posterolateral approach to direct anterior approach (DAA) by evaluating the first 53 cases of total hip arthroplasty using a DAA.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective review of 52 patients who underwent THA using a DAA between July 2017 and December 2018. Reasons for THA were: femoral neck fracture (n=34), avascular necrosis (n=13), and arthritis (n=6). The mean age was 70 years old. An assessment of feasibility was made by analyzing mean operative time and blood loss. Cup inclination, anteversion, and leg length discrepancy (LLD) were measured using postoperative radiology. Safety of the DAA was judged using the incidence and nature of all complications.

Results

The mean operative time was 112 minutes. 135 minutes for the 1st 10 cases, 100 minutes for 2nd 10 cases, 113 minutes for 3rd 10 cases, 119 minutes for 4th 10 cases, and 91 minutes for the final 13 cases. The mean blood loss was 724 mL. Average cup inclination was 40.27°; 2 cases were out of safety angle. Mean anteversion was 16.18°. No intraoperative fractures or infections were observed. LLD was detected in 3 cases, one of which underwent revision due to walking difficulty. Dislocation occurred in 3 cases, all within the first 20 cases, however, there was no recurrent dislocation.

Conclusion

DAA for THA was deemed to be feasible and safe based on an assessment of operative time, blood loss and complications.

Risk factors associated with complications following total hip arthroplasty using the two-incision technique

Background:

The frequency of the complications following total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the two-incision technique is well documented. However, few reports have analyzed the preoperative patient–related factors associated with the complications. The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of early complications following primary two-incision THA and to define the risk factors associated with perioperative complications.

Materials and Methods:

The subjects of this retrospective study were 1218 consecutive patients who underwent primary two-incision THA. The incidence of hip dislocation, stem subsidence, intraoperative femoral fracture, and nontraumatic postoperative femoral fracture was evaluated. The association between complications and preoperative patient–related factors, including gender, obesity, Crowe classification, age, body mass index (BMI), and morphological parameters of the proximal femoral medullary cavity, were investigated.

Results:

The incidences of complications were dislocation (1.1%), stem subsidence (0.9%), intraoperative femoral fracture (1.2%), and postoperative femoral fracture (0.7%). Obesity (BMI > 30) influenced the occurrences of stem subsidence and postoperative femoral fractures ( p = 0.0001, p = 0.019). Crowe classification significantly correlated with intraoperative femoral fractures (Grade II: odds ratio (OR) 4.63, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.32–15.6; Grade III and IV: OR 8.96, 95% CI, 2.2–34.94). Additionally, the outer diameter of the femur 10 cm below the lesser trochanter tended to be small in patients who developed a femoral fracture.

Conclusions:

The early complication rate was comparable to other methods used in uncemented THA. It is necessary for patients with risk factors revealed in this study to pay careful attention or consider other surgical approaches to avoid complications. Further studies considering femur morphology are required.

Enhanced recovery in total hip replacement: a clinical review

The outcome after total hip replacement has improved with the development of surgical techniques, better pain management and the introduction of enhanced recovery pathways. These pathways require a multidisciplinary team to manage pre-operative education, multimodal pain control and accelerated rehabilitation. The current economic climate and restricted budgets favour brief hospitalisation while minimising costs. This has put considerable pressure on hospitals to combine excellent results, early functional recovery and shorter admissions. In this review we present an evidence-based summary of some common interventions and methods, including pre-operative patient education, pre-emptive analgesia, local infiltration analgesia, pre-operative nutrition, the use of pulsed electromagnetic fields, peri-operative rehabilitation, wound dressings, different surgical techniques, minimally invasive surgery and fast-track joint replacement units.