Assessment of the Learning Curve of Supercapsular Percutaneously-assisted Total Hip Arthroplasty in an Asian Population
Abstract Background: The supercapsularpercutaneously-assisted total hip (SuperPATH) approach is a micro-invasive approach that was developed to minimize surgical disruption of soft-tissue during routine total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aimed to assess early outcomes and learning curves of the SuperPATHapproachin one Chinese hospital’s experience.Methods: Early outcomes of the first consecutive 78SuperPATH cases (80 hips) performed by same surgeon were evaluated. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the surgical order. The incision, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, Harris hip score and complications occurrence in each group were evaluated. Learning curves were assessed using operative time and intraoperative blood loss as surrogates.Results:The operation time and intraoperative blood loss of group A and B was more than that of group C and D, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), however there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (group A vs. group B, P=0.426; group A vs. group B, P=0.426).There was no statistically significant difference in terms of incision length and hospital stay and Harris hip score at the last follow-up was increased with statistically significant difference when compared with that of preoperative among the 4 groups. One case of periprosthetic fracture occurred in group A. No other complication, such as joint dislocation, sciatic nerve injury, prosthesis loosening, periprosthetic infection and deep vein thromboembolism, occurred in 4 groups.Conclusion:In summary, for surgeons who familiar with the standard posterolateral approach, they could achieve more familiar with SuperPATH after 40 case of surgery.