Effects of anterolateral minimally invasive surgery in total hip arthroplasty on hip muscle strength, walking speed, and functional score.

We conducted this study to observe the difference in muscle strength and walking speed between patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) in whom an anterolateral mini-incision technique was used and those in whom a conventional approach was used. Fifty-three patients who underwent a mini-incision THA were matched by diagnosis, sex, age, period elapsed since surgery (which ranged from 6 months to 4 years), weight, and height to 53 patients who underwent THA using the conventional anterolateral approach. During the first year after surgery, patients with the mini-incision THA had significantly better hip muscle strength, walking speed, and functional score (P < .05). At 1 year, the performance characteristics studied were statistically equivalent (P > .05). Although the mini-incision technique is more difficult than the conventional technique, its use by experienced surgeons can produce quicker short-term recovery.