A Comparison of Anterolateral and Posterolateral Approaches in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

The aim of this study was to compare the short-term clinical and radiological results of anterolateral and posterolateral approaches in total hip arthroplasty. The study included patients who were operated on for hip osteoarthritis. The patients were allocated to one of two groups for applying uncemented total hip prosthesis with the anterolateral or posterolateral approach. They were operated on by one surgical team composed of two senior surgeons. They were clinically evaluated using the Harris Hip Score and radiologically using direct radiographs. Various parameters were recorded in both the groups, including amount of blood loss, surgical time, and duration of hospitalization. A total of 70 patients were followed up for a mean duration of 18 months (range 6–36 months), 34 in the anterolateral group and 36 in the posterolateral group. No statistically significant differences were observed between the anterolateral and posterolateral approaches for a total hip prosthesis in terms of the clinical and radiological results. The most successful results can be obtained using the technique that the surgeon performs better according to his experience of total hip arthroplasty.