Primary hip replacement using separate incisions to install the femoral and acetabular components can minimize surgical trauma, and expedite patient recovery. We examined the acute complications in a consecutive series of 54 primary total hip replacements performed with this technique.

The series included all patients undergoing a primary total hip replacement for degenerative arthritis. Un cemented components were implanted in each case; with the first 23 hips done with a proximally coated femoral implant; the next 15 with a fully coated femoral implant and the remaining 16 receiving a proximally coated wedge-shaped implant that relied on mediolateral press fit in the metaphyseal femur. Identical rehabilitation protocols were used in all cases. No particular attempt was made to discharge any patient early from the hospital. Results were reviewed at 3 months after surgery.

Sonny Bal MD, Doug Haltom MD, Matthew Barrett MD

The two-incision hip replacement is a technically demanding procedure. Significant complications can occur with this approach. Attention to several technical details, experience, and choice of implant affected the incidence of complications in our series. These data will be of interest to anyone contemplating adoption of this technique.