Minimal invasive surgery has gained popularity among hip surgeons and patients. Based on early studies, the method is described as a very promising alternative, with low dislocation rates, resulting in a non-traumatic procedure and early functional return. However, complication rates arising of the recent studies raise concern about the applied technique. The aim of the study is to present the clinical results and intra- and post-operative complications of the AMIS procedure in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip, managed with total hip arthroplasty with positioning table, in a 5 years follow up. One senior hip arthroplasty surgeon performed all surgeries. Three hundred eighteen consecutive patients (195 females, 123 males) were clinically and radiologically evaluated, postoperatively 2, 6 and 12 months. Mean patient age was 69.7 years (24 to 88). There was significant improvement according to Harris-Hip Score, ODI, SF-36 scales. The mean incision length was 7.5cm (6 to 8cm). The mean operating time was calculated at 85 minutes. The patients were discharged on the second post-operative day, able to walk with partial weight bearing. One month post-operative, the patients were advised for full weight bearing walking without crutches. Intraoperative complications included two femoral perforations. Postoperative complications included two patients with femoral fractures; one with dislocation; two with superficial infections; three with wound complications; three with femoral stem aseptic loosening; one with ceramic inner fracture and two acetabular component protrusion in the same patient, among which only the last patient had reoperation in both hips. Anterior Minimal Invasive Surgery of the hip is a non-traumatic procedure, associated with reduced pain, faster recovery and no major complications, but requires higher experience level from the hip surgeon.
AMIS Total Hip Arthroplasty using traction table: 5 years follow-up
