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UNLABELLED: The surgical approach used is an important aspect of hip arthroplasty and will have an effect on the loading of the implant. Our goal was to establish whether there was a difference in early stem migration between the posterior and the lateral surgical approaches. The migration patterns of 45 Exeter stems in 45 patients were measured using radiostereometric analysis during a 2-year period; 19 of the stems were implanted using the posterior approach and 26 were implanted using the lateral approach. From postoperative radiostereometric measurements it was established that there was no difference in initial stem position between the two approaches. The posterior approach group had greater internal rotation of the stem, approximately 2 degrees during the first 2 years. The lateral group had almost 1/2 this amount of internal rotation. Overall stem subsidence was similar between the groups. These differences suggest that the lateral approach may give a survival advantage, especially for less rotationally stable stem designs and suboptimal cementing technique. The posterior approach gives rise to greater degree of internal rotation during the first 2 years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Original publication

DOI

10.1097/01.blo.0000224006.25636.cc

Type

Journal article

Journal

Clin Orthop Relat Res

Publication Date

07/2006

Volume

448

Pages

87 - 91

Keywords

Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip, Bone Cements, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Hip Prosthesis, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Osteoarthritis, Hip, Prospective Studies, Prosthesis Design, Radiography, Treatment Outcome