Minimally invasive hip arthroplasty: advantages and disadvantages.
BACKGROUND
To present the method and advantages of anterior minimally invasive surgery (AMIS) in coxarthrosis and hip fractures treatment.


METHODS
During 2008 and 2009, 35 patients were treated with AMIS method. They were compared with 35 patients treated with lateral, transgluteal approach (control group) in the same period. All operations were performed by the same surgical team. The main reason for surgery was hip arthrosis, only two patients in AMIS group underwent surgery because of femoral neck fracture. Early postoperative complications and functional status are followed by Haris Hip Score (HHS).


RESULTS
Operation time was shorter and postoperative blood loss was lesser in AMIS group (78 min, 490 ml) than in the control group (85 min, 570 ml). In the AMIS group one patient had each post-operative knee pain, fractured tip of a large trochanter, acetabular overreaming, perforation of shaft with rasp, and two patients had parestesis n.cutaneus femoris lat. They had no infections or hip luxation. In the control group early hip luxation and superficial wound infections have occurred in one and two cases, respectively. Patients in the AMIS group were more satisfied, demanded less analgesics and their rehabilitation was faster. Haris Hip Score in the AMIS group after 2 months was 80 compared with 69 in the controls, and after 4 months 92 compared to 88 in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
AMIS is a safe, reproducible and rewarding technique which provides low morbidity and fast postoperative recovery for the patient.
Department of Traumatology, Surgery Clinic, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
Božidar
B
Sebečić
Mario
M
Starešinić
Vencel
V
Culjak
Mladen
M
Japjec
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000601:surgery