A Comparison of the Incidences of VenousThromboembolism after Total Hip Arthroplasty between theDirect Anterior Approach and the Direct Lateral Approach,Especially in the Early Period after Introduction of the DirectAnterior Approach

To compare the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the directanterior approach (DAA) with that using the direct lateral approach (DLA). In addition, patient background characteristics andthe incidence of VTE were compared between the first half and the latter half of the period after introducing DAA and againstDLA.Method. )is was a retrospective, multicenter study involving 109 patients (116 hips) who had undergone primary unilateralTHA. )irty-six hips underwent THA using DAA and 80 hips underwent THA using DLA. Patient information including sex,age, and preoperative diagnosis was collected. )e incidence of VTE was compared between DAA and DLA. Moreover, thepatients who underwent THA using DAA were divided into 2 groups (first half and latter half groups), and sex, age, body massindex (BMI), and surgical time were compared between the 2 groups. Moreover, the incidence of VTE was compared among the 3groups (first half of DAA, latter half of DAA, and DLA).Results. )e incidence of VTE in the DAA group was significantly higherthan that in the DLA group(p�0.014). )e incidence of VTE in the first half group was significantly higher than in the latter halfgroup and the DLA group (p�0.035 andp�0.001, respectively), and there was no difference in the incidence of VTE betweenthe latter half group and the DLA group(p�0.923). Surgical time was significantly longer in the first half group than in the latterhalf group(p�0.046).Conclusions. In the first half of the period after introducing the DAA, more VTEs occurred than in theDLA. It may be important to shorten the surgical time in the early stage of introducing the DAA, and aggressive anticoagulationtherapy may be required until the surgeon becomes familiar with the procedure.