MINIMALLY INVASIVE TOTAL HIP ARTHOPLASTY: COMPARISON OF FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES OF ONE VERSUS TWO-INCISION

Abstract

A consecutive series of patients who underwent 113 total hip arthroplasty (THA) with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) (63 one-, 50 two-incision cases) were studied. One-incision THA was performed with a posterolateral approach. For the two-incision, the first incision for cup insertion was made over the anterolateral side of the hip and intermuscular dissection was performed between the gluteus medius and the tensor fascia lata. The second incision for stem insertion was made on the posterolateral side along the fiber of the gluteus maximus and intermuscular dissection was made between the gluteus medius and the piriformis.

The average length of the skin incision and standard deviation (SD) in the one- and two-incision group was 7.5 ± 0.54 cm and 12.1 ± 0.93 cm (p < 0.001). Average surgical time for the two groups (and SD) was 52 ± 8.5 minutes and 70 ± 10.2 minutes (p = 0.042) in the one and two incision groups respectively. Fluoroscopy was used in the two-incision group for an average 6.0 ± 5.3 seconds. In the one-incision group, the average time was 1.3 ± 2.1 seconds.

The patients in the one-incision group could walk on crutches at postoperative 3.7 days on average, and in the two-incision group at 1.6 days on average (p = 0.000). In the one-incision group, patients used crutches for 6 weeks on average, and in the two-incision group, patients used crutches for 3 weeks on average (p = 0.042).

Complications that developed within 1 month of surgery in the one-incision group were: 1 case of DVT, 1 case of intra-operative fracture and 1 case of dislocation; for the two incision group there were: 1 case of DVT, 1 case of intra-operative fracture and 1 case of femoral nerve entrapment.

Before surgery, the HHS for the one-incision group was 49.8 points, and for the two-incision group it was 49.6 points (p > 0.05). At the time of the follow up review conducted postoperatively 1 year, the average HHS was not significantly different (p > 0.05). However, the average function score in HSS for the two-incision group was superior to that of the one-incision group (p = 0.045). Preoperative WOMAC scores were not different for the two groups (68.7 in one-incision group and 70.9 in two-incision group, respectively, p > 0.05). However, the average WOMAC score for the two-incision group was better, especially for the function score (p = 0.001). The other hip functions, common in oriental persons, were also better in the two-incision group compared to the one-incision group.

On the radiographs, the location of the femoral prosthesis inserted in the medullary cavity was usually central in both groups; only 4 cases showed varus in the one-incision group and 2 cases in the two-incision group. The opening angle of the acetabular component was 38.1° in the one-incision group and 39.2° in the two-incision group (p > 0.05). The anteversion of the acetabular component was 21.0° in the one-incision group and 22.2° in two-incision group (p > 0.05).

As compared with one-incision MIS-THA, two-incision MIS-THA, although it is a more difficult procedure, produces superior results, recovery was faster and patient satisfaction was higher due to early rehabilitation and reduced soft tissue damage without increasing the complication frequency.