Surgical access and damage extent after total hip arthroplasty influence early gait pattern and guide rehabilitation treatment

Aim. Different surgical approaches are used in total hip arthroplasty. The present study confronted two surgical techniques, analysing functional recovery in terms of activities of daily living, and ambulation using gait analysis, after a standardized rehabilitation protocol. Our hypothesis was that the increased surgical damage could modify the gait pattern and functional recovery. Methods. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to two homogeneous groups: Group A was treated with intermuscular minimally invasive surgery (MIS); Group B was treated with standard lateral transmuscular approach. Follow up was planned at 30 and 90 days. Instrumental evaluation using gait analysis and functional evaluation using validated scales were performed at follow up. Results. No differences could be found as for functional scales. At the first follow up, the MIS approach proved to be the most favourable: data showed a longer duration of the swing phase, an improved range of motion of the nontreated hip, a reduced adduction (all P