Mini-incision anterior approach does not increase dislocation rate: a study of 1037 total hip replacements.

Correct positioning of the prosthetic components in total hip replacements is important to prevent dislocations. Correct positioning is made easier by extensive approaches, but it also is possible using the mini-incision approach. The mini-incision used to facilitate early rehabilitation should not produce a higher dislocation rate than that of the more conventional approaches. The anterior surgical approach we describe allows for good exposure, despite the reduced size of the skin incision. Its length is 5-10 cm and usually 6-8 cm for patients with normal corpulence. Our mini-incision anterior approach using intermuscular planes allows a surgical approach to the hip and implantation of a total prosthesis with no muscle, tendon, or trochanteric section, even partially. This is not possible with any other surgical approach. A series of 1037 primary total hip replacements done between June 1993 and June 2000 was studied retrospectively. The dislocation rate was 0.96% (10 of 1037 hips). The mini-incision approach allows for adequate positioning of the two prosthetic components. Preserving the muscular potential also may contribute to dynamic stabilization of the hip.