In-Hospital Cost Analysis of Total Hip Arthroplasty: Does Surgical Approach Matter?

The purposes of this study were to determine the impact of surgical approach on costs of total hip arthroplasty (THA) from a hospital perspective and to provide an updated cost estimation of THA. A prospective, microcosting analysis was performed on 118 patients undergoing a THA through an anterior, lateral, or posterior approach. We determined that overall costs (intraoperative costs and hospital stay) were significantly less for the anterior ($7300.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7064.49-7535.95) vs lateral ($7853.10; 95% CI, 7577.29-8128.91; P = .031) and anterior vs posterior approach ($8287.46; 95% CI, 7906.42-8668.51; P < .001). A reduction in hospital length of stay when THA was performed through an anterior approach contributed significantly to an overall reduction in costs from a hospital perspective.