Does the anterior approach for THA provide closer-to-normal lower-limb motion?

The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle-sparing anterior approach for total hip arthroplasty to a traditional lateral approach using 3D motion analysis. Kinematics and kinetics of walking were obtained for 40 patients (20 anterior and 20 lateral) and 20 control participants. Participants were assessed six to twelve months postoperatively. It was hypothesized that the anterior group would have closer-to-normal range of motion, moments, and powers than the lateral group. Both surgical groups had gait anomalies, such as significantly lower peak hip abduction moments. It is therefore thought that other variables such as preoperative gait adaptations, trauma from the surgery, or postoperative protection mechanisms for avoiding loading the prosthesis might be more influential factors than surgical approach when determining function after surgery.