Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most successful operations in orthopaedics because of its pain relief, functional improvement, high satisfaction, and low complication rates. Rates of #TotalHipArthroplasty have increased over the past several decades. As a consequence of improved survivability, younger patients are being offered THA and surgeons must be prepared to counsel patients regarding participation in sport and recreational activities after hip arthroplasty
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Why consider Hip Replacement Surgery?
Sport and recreation can have positive benefits on the overall health and quality of life for older individuals, and the most common deterrent is medical limitations. Physical activity trends over the past three decades have changed, leading to more people older than 50 participating in recreational activity. A cross sectional suggests that 30% of adults aged 55-64 participate in sport activities, an increase from 11.9% over the past decade. Following #hipreplacement a majority of patients return to physical activity.
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Direct Anterior Approach THA
Over the past two decades, the rate of direct anterior approach (DAA) THA has increased in popularity, aimed at reducing dislocation rates in THA. Direct anterior approach hip arthroplasties are often performed on a specialized table using inter-nervous plane dissection, with a goal of minimizing soft tissue trauma. Direct #AnteriorApproach typically allows limited anterior hip precautions postoperatively.
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"Direct Anterior Approach to Total Hip Arthroplasty Improves the Likelihood of Return to Previous Recreational Activities Compared with Posterior Approach"
[JAAOS: Global Research and Reviews 6(1):e21.00160, January 2022.]
Compared with the posterior approach, patients undergoing THA using the direct anterior approach were more likely to attempt their preoperative sporting activities, participated in a greater amount of recreational activities, and had a stronger perception that the approach influenced their return to recreational activities.