Similar Improvement in Gait Parameters Following Direct Anterior & Posterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty

• Published in: The Journal of arthroplasty Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 1261 - 1264
• Main Authors: Rathod, Parthiv A., MD, Orishimo, Karl F., MS, Kremenic, Ian J., MEng, Deshmukh, Ajit J., MD, Rodriguez, José A., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2014
• Subjects: Aged; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip - methods; Biomechanical Phenomena; direct anterior; Female; Gait; gait analysis; hip arthroplasty; Hip Joint - physiopathology; Hip Joint - surgery; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Orthopedics; Osteoarthritis, Hip - physiopathology; Osteoarthritis, Hip - surgery; posterior; Prospective Studies; Range of Motion, Articular; Recovery of Function; posterior; hip arthroplasty; gait analysis; direct anterior
• ISSN: 0883-5403; 1532-8406
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2013.11.021

Abstract We compared gait parameters prior to, at 6 months and 1 year following total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed via direct anterior approach (DAA) and posterior approach (PA) by a single surgeon in 22 patients. A gait analysis system involving reflective markers, infrared cameras and a multicomponent force plate was utilized. Postoperatively, the study cohort demonstrated improvement in flexion/extension range of motion (ROM) ( P = 0.001), peak flexion ( P = 0.005) and extension ( P = 0.002) moments with no differences between groups. Internal/external ROM improved significantly in the DAA group ( P = 0.04) with no change in the PA group. THA performed via DAA and PA offers similar improvement in gait parameters with the exception of internal/external ROM which might be related to the release and repair of external rotators during PA THA.