Abstract
The anterior approach is now an accepted approach for total hip arthroplasty. First described over a century ago, its popularity has grown significantly in the last decade with the advent of a reproducible technique on an orthopaedic table. Potential advantages include quicker recovery times, less post-operative pain, improved hip biomechanics, and more accurate cup position. While both femoral exposure and learning curve are often cited as potential drawbacks, a large percentage of US surgeons now utilise this teachable approach. The adoption of this approach has facilitated the development of new tools to assist the arthroplasty surgeon in a more efficient and efficacious manner.
The anterior approach is performed with the patient in a supine position on an orthopaedic table. The supine position provides improved visualization of the acetabulum, appreciation of pelvic position as well as the advantage of intra-operative fluoroscopy. While many technologies including navigation and first generation robotics exist to assist the surgeon with virtual information; only fluoroscopy provides the surgeon with real time actual information. The interpretation of fluoroscopic images carries a learning curve and potential for error. New technology now exists to assist the surgeon to better interpret fluoroscopic images including anteversion and abduction of cup, leg length and offset.
Since the first hip surgery was performed by Sir John Charnley, hip surgeons have utilised specialised tools including reamers, drills, saws, and mallets during surgery to assist with cup insertion, femoral preparation, stem insertion, liner insertion and head impaction. Many tools in the operating room including drills, reamers, and saws have moved from hand powered operation to pneumatic and now battery powered operation to assist with efficiency, efficacy, and reduced surgeon fatigue. A new, battery powered impaction device provides a consistent and constant energy that does not rely on the surgeon's mallet speed, throw distance, or impact contact. This may represent the next generation of surgical tools available to the arthroplasty surgeon that has the potential to make the mallet obsolete.
