Does surgical approach matter? Evaluating patient-reported outcomes in bilateral staged total hip arthroplasty.

Purpose: This study examines the impact of surgical approach on patient-reported outcomes in staged bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed in same patient using two different approaches: the direct anterior approach (DAA) on one side and posterolateral approach (PL) on other side.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 41 patients evaluated pain relief and functional outcomes using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) at 7 days, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively.

Results: The DAA demonstrated significantly better pain relief and functional outcomes during the first 7 days after surgery. However, no significant differences were found between the two approaches in long-term outcomes at 6 and 12 months.

Conclusion: While the DAA may provide early recovery advantages, both approaches achieve comparable long-term results. The DAA could be a preferable option for patients prioritizing quicker recovery. Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings and explore patient preferences.