The direct anterior approach for simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasty: a short-term efficacy analysis

Purpose Compared to the posterior approach (PA), the direct anterior approach (DAA) can achieve better clinical outcomes for total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the same advantages associated with the DAA could be attained in patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral THA. Method We retrospectively reviewed 89 patients who underwent one-stage bilateral THA through the DAA (group A, n = 46) and through the PA (group B, n = 43) between June 2015 and November 2017 at our institution. The patients were followed up for a minimum of 1 year. There were no significant differences in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), preoperative hemoglobin level, preoperative Harris hip score (HHS), and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score between the two groups ( P > 0.05 for all). Results The incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion volume, and the length of stay (LOS) were significantly less in group A than in group B ( p < 0.05). The surgery-related complications were not significantly lower in group A (5.43%) than in group B (10.47%) ( χ 2 = 2.209, p = 0.112). In 46 cases in group A, one hip had an acetabular anteversion higher than normal value. In both groups, one hip developed aseptic loosening. The HHS was significantly higher in group A than in group B 1, 3, 12 month(s) after operation ( p < 0.05). The VAS was significantly lower in group A than in group B 1, 3, 12 month(s) after operation. Against the simple Likert scale, comprehensive satisfaction was significantly higher in group A (97.8%, 45/46) than in group B (76.7%, 33/43) ( χ 2 = 9.119, p = 0.003). Conclusion In patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral THA, DAA could significantly relieve pain, accelerate the functional recovery of hip joint and improve the satisfaction more than PA. In clinical practice, however, more attention should be paid to strict compliance to operative indications and the prevention of early complications. The long-term effectiveness warrants further observation.