Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty: The Heuter Interval

The authors report on outcomes from a consecutive series of 450 total hip arthroplasty patients who underwent surgery with a single-incision anterior approach to the hip joint. This approach is relevant to minimally invasive two-incision total hip arthroplasty, since the anterior portion of the two-incision technique is identical to that described here. Complications with the single incision technique, including thigh sensory changes and periprosthetic femur fractures, are reported, and the authors discuss how these may be avoided. In the authors' experience with total hip arthroplasty through the anterior approach, patients report reduced postoperative pain and experience more rapid recovery, with less surgical scarring.