title: A new anterolateral surgical approach for total hip replacement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  the purpose of the present paper is to present the short-term results of a "detachment-free" (DF) anterolateral approach for primary total hip replacement (THR) performed in a large series of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  two hundred patients submitted to primary THR were retrospectively reviewed for the present study. In all cases, the surgery was performed using a minimally invasive DF anterolateral approach, which entails no disconnection of tendons and no muscle damage. The study population consisted of 96 men (48%) and 104 women (52%), with an average age of 69.4 years (range 38-75). Clinical and radiographic follow-up was performed after 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the clinical results, evaluated using the Harris Hip Score, were excellent in 95% of the cases and good in 5%; no cases had fair or poor results. X-rays taken at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery did not show heterotopic ossification, mobilization of the prosthetic components, or hip dislocation. No infections, deep vein thrombosis, or failure of the gluteal muscles were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the DF anterolateral approach for THR proved safe and provided effective results at short-term follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, therapeutic case series.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and Regional Hip Surgery Center, Hospital of Cittadella, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Grano
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and Regional Hip Surgery Center, Hospital of Cittadella, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavlidou
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and Regional Hip Surgery Center, Hospital of Cittadella, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Todesco
authors.affiliation: Italian Auxologic Institute, IRCSS Capitanio (MI), Italy.
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.affiliation: School of Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, Research Center of Osteoporosis and Osteoarticular Diseases, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Molfetta
keywords: anterolateral; approach; arthroplasty; hip; replacement