Choosing The Right Approach

Description

Professor Fares S Haddad gives his expert insights and discusses the importance of surgical approaches to hip arthroplasty, emphasizing that while the approach is a minor part of the overall operation, it must be executed proficiently. A thorough pre-operative assessment is critical, involving a comprehensive clinical examination to understand the patient's unique condition, including any deformities and gait patterns, as well as factors like previous surgeries and neuromuscular issues that may influence the surgical approach.



Professor Haddad highlights various surgical techniques, outlining that access to the hip can be achieved from the front, back, or via anterolateral approaches. Although the posterior approach has been dominant in recent decades, the anterior approach has seen significant growth, particularly in North America, illustrating a shift in surgical preferences.



Emphasis is placed on the necessity for surgeons to be versatile, capable of addressing complications such as fractures or instability through their chosen approach. With increasing numbers of surgeons adopting the anterior approach for revisions, there is a call for comprehensive training that encompasses multiple techniques to ensure adaptability and expertise in hip surgery. Ultimately, the aim is to achieve proficiency in a primary approach while maintaining the flexibility to handle varying surgical circumstances.




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DOI: 10.1302/3114-251119

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