Direct anterior approach versus posterior approach in total hip arthroplasty after ONFH with failed vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation: a retrospective comparative study

Abstract Background Hip preservation surgery with vascularized iliac bone flap transplantation is currently an important method for treating patients with early-stage femoral head necrosis and collapse. However, if hip preservation fails, total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the only treatment option. Th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kun Chu, Yuchuan Wang, Bo Liu, Zihang Li, Zhaolong Wang, Junheng Zhang, Yongqiang Fan, Binquan Zhang, Huijie Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08418-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849333968056352768
author Kun Chu
Yuchuan Wang
Bo Liu
Zihang Li
Zhaolong Wang
Junheng Zhang
Yongqiang Fan
Binquan Zhang
Huijie Li
author_facet Kun Chu
Yuchuan Wang
Bo Liu
Zihang Li
Zhaolong Wang
Junheng Zhang
Yongqiang Fan
Binquan Zhang
Huijie Li
author_sort Kun Chu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Hip preservation surgery with vascularized iliac bone flap transplantation is currently an important method for treating patients with early-stage femoral head necrosis and collapse. However, if hip preservation fails, total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the only treatment option. This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and complications of direct anterior (DAA) and posterior (PA) approaches for subsequent THA in patients with failed hip preservation. Methods The data of patients who initially underwent vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation, and subsequently progressed to end-stage hip osteonecrosis which required THA from January 2013 to March 2020 were retrospectively analysed. These patients were divided into two groups (group DAA; group PA). Baseline information of the included patients was collected. Surgical time, blood loss, and perioperative complications were compared between the two groups. Visual analog scale (VAS) results were recorded for all patients at 1, 3,and 6 months postoperatively to assess the severity of pain. Harris hip scores (HHS) were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively to assess hip joint function recovery. Radiographic measurements were used to evaluate prosthesis placement. Results The study included 62 patients (62 hips), with 28 patients (28 hips) in the DAA group and 34 patients (34 hips) in the PA group. The two groups were well-balanced in terms of basic characteristics (p > 0.05). Perioperative outcomes comparison revealed that in subsequent THA surgeries, PA was associated with significantly longer surgical time and greater intraoperative blood loss than DAA (p < 0.05). Patients who received THA in the direct anterior approach experienced less pain The direct anterior approach demonstrated superior pain relief within the first month and third month postoperatively compared to the posterior approach (p < 0.05). Furthermore, at the 3-month follow-up, patients receiving DAA had significantly higher HHS scores than those undergoing PA, suggesting enhanced joint function recovery benefits from DAA (79.54 ± 7.91 vs. 76.62 ± 7.76, p = 0.000). Conclusion In cases where vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation fails, subsequent THA performed via DAA appears to result in shorter surgical time and less intraoperative blood loss compared to PA. However, compared with PA, DAA seems to have a higher risk of complications, so surgeons need to be extra cautious during surgery.
format Article
id doaj-art-e1f580d6fc134865b95db5100fdde565
institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2474
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
spelling doaj-art-e1f580d6fc134865b95db5100fdde5652025-08-20T03:45:43ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742025-07-0126111110.1186/s12891-025-08418-0Direct anterior approach versus posterior approach in total hip arthroplasty after ONFH with failed vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation: a retrospective comparative studyKun Chu0Yuchuan Wang1Bo Liu2Zihang Li3Zhaolong Wang4Junheng Zhang5Yongqiang Fan6Binquan Zhang7Huijie Li8First Hospital of QinhuangdaoHebei Medical University Third HospitalHebei Medical University Third HospitalHebei Medical University Third HospitalHebei Medical University Third HospitalHebei Medical University Third HospitalHebei Medical University Third HospitalHebei Medical University Third HospitalHebei Medical University Third HospitalAbstract Background Hip preservation surgery with vascularized iliac bone flap transplantation is currently an important method for treating patients with early-stage femoral head necrosis and collapse. However, if hip preservation fails, total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the only treatment option. This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and complications of direct anterior (DAA) and posterior (PA) approaches for subsequent THA in patients with failed hip preservation. Methods The data of patients who initially underwent vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation, and subsequently progressed to end-stage hip osteonecrosis which required THA from January 2013 to March 2020 were retrospectively analysed. These patients were divided into two groups (group DAA; group PA). Baseline information of the included patients was collected. Surgical time, blood loss, and perioperative complications were compared between the two groups. Visual analog scale (VAS) results were recorded for all patients at 1, 3,and 6 months postoperatively to assess the severity of pain. Harris hip scores (HHS) were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively to assess hip joint function recovery. Radiographic measurements were used to evaluate prosthesis placement. Results The study included 62 patients (62 hips), with 28 patients (28 hips) in the DAA group and 34 patients (34 hips) in the PA group. The two groups were well-balanced in terms of basic characteristics (p > 0.05). Perioperative outcomes comparison revealed that in subsequent THA surgeries, PA was associated with significantly longer surgical time and greater intraoperative blood loss than DAA (p < 0.05). Patients who received THA in the direct anterior approach experienced less pain The direct anterior approach demonstrated superior pain relief within the first month and third month postoperatively compared to the posterior approach (p < 0.05). Furthermore, at the 3-month follow-up, patients receiving DAA had significantly higher HHS scores than those undergoing PA, suggesting enhanced joint function recovery benefits from DAA (79.54 ± 7.91 vs. 76.62 ± 7.76, p = 0.000). Conclusion In cases where vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation fails, subsequent THA performed via DAA appears to result in shorter surgical time and less intraoperative blood loss compared to PA. However, compared with PA, DAA seems to have a higher risk of complications, so surgeons need to be extra cautious during surgery.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08418-0Vascularized iliac crest bone graftingTotal hip arthroplastyDirect anterior approachPosterior approach
spellingShingle Kun Chu
Yuchuan Wang
Bo Liu
Zihang Li
Zhaolong Wang
Junheng Zhang
Yongqiang Fan
Binquan Zhang
Huijie Li
Direct anterior approach versus posterior approach in total hip arthroplasty after ONFH with failed vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation: a retrospective comparative study
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Vascularized iliac crest bone grafting
Total hip arthroplasty
Direct anterior approach
Posterior approach
title Direct anterior approach versus posterior approach in total hip arthroplasty after ONFH with failed vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation: a retrospective comparative study
title_full Direct anterior approach versus posterior approach in total hip arthroplasty after ONFH with failed vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation: a retrospective comparative study
title_fullStr Direct anterior approach versus posterior approach in total hip arthroplasty after ONFH with failed vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation: a retrospective comparative study
title_full_unstemmed Direct anterior approach versus posterior approach in total hip arthroplasty after ONFH with failed vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation: a retrospective comparative study
title_short Direct anterior approach versus posterior approach in total hip arthroplasty after ONFH with failed vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation: a retrospective comparative study
title_sort direct anterior approach versus posterior approach in total hip arthroplasty after onfh with failed vascularized iliac crest bone grafting for hip preservation a retrospective comparative study
topic Vascularized iliac crest bone grafting
Total hip arthroplasty
Direct anterior approach
Posterior approach
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08418-0
work_keys_str_mv AT kunchu directanteriorapproachversusposteriorapproachintotalhiparthroplastyafteronfhwithfailedvascularizediliaccrestbonegraftingforhippreservationaretrospectivecomparativestudy
AT yuchuanwang directanteriorapproachversusposteriorapproachintotalhiparthroplastyafteronfhwithfailedvascularizediliaccrestbonegraftingforhippreservationaretrospectivecomparativestudy
AT boliu directanteriorapproachversusposteriorapproachintotalhiparthroplastyafteronfhwithfailedvascularizediliaccrestbonegraftingforhippreservationaretrospectivecomparativestudy
AT zihangli directanteriorapproachversusposteriorapproachintotalhiparthroplastyafteronfhwithfailedvascularizediliaccrestbonegraftingforhippreservationaretrospectivecomparativestudy
AT zhaolongwang directanteriorapproachversusposteriorapproachintotalhiparthroplastyafteronfhwithfailedvascularizediliaccrestbonegraftingforhippreservationaretrospectivecomparativestudy
AT junhengzhang directanteriorapproachversusposteriorapproachintotalhiparthroplastyafteronfhwithfailedvascularizediliaccrestbonegraftingforhippreservationaretrospectivecomparativestudy
AT yongqiangfan directanteriorapproachversusposteriorapproachintotalhiparthroplastyafteronfhwithfailedvascularizediliaccrestbonegraftingforhippreservationaretrospectivecomparativestudy
AT binquanzhang directanteriorapproachversusposteriorapproachintotalhiparthroplastyafteronfhwithfailedvascularizediliaccrestbonegraftingforhippreservationaretrospectivecomparativestudy
AT huijieli directanteriorapproachversusposteriorapproachintotalhiparthroplastyafteronfhwithfailedvascularizediliaccrestbonegraftingforhippreservationaretrospectivecomparativestudy