High risk of positive Trendelenburg test after using the direct lateral approach to the hip compared with the anterolateral approach: A single-centre, randomized trial in patients with femoral neck fracture
Ugland, Terje; Haugeberg, Glenn; Svenningsen, Svein; Ugland, Stein Håvard; Berg, Øystein Hjalmar; Pripp, Are Hugo; Nordsletten, Lars
Journal article, Peer reviewed
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Date
2019Metadata
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Original version
The Bone & Joint Journal. 2019, 101 B (7), 793-799. 10.1302/0301-620X.101B7.BJJ-2019-0035.R1Abstract
Aims
The aim of this randomized trial was to compare the functional outcome of two different surgical approaches to the hip in patients with a femoral neck fracture treated with a hemiarthroplasty.
Patients and Methods
A total of 150 patients who were treated between February 2014 and July 2017 were included. Patients were allocated to undergo hemiarthroplasty using either an anterolateral or a direct lateral approach, and were followed for 12 months. The mean age of the patients was 81 years (69 to 90), and 109 were women (73%). Functional outcome measures, assessed by a physiotherapist blinded to allocation, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected postoperatively at three and 12 months.
Results
A total of 11 patients in the direct lateral group had a positive Trendelenburg test at one year compared with one patient in the anterolateral group (11/55 (20%) vs 1/55 (1.8%), relative risk (RR) 11.1; p = 0.004). Patients with a positive Trendelenburg test reported significantly worse Hip Disability Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (HOOS) compared with patients with a negative Trendelenburg test. Further outcome measures showed few statistically significant differences between the groups.
Conclusion
The direct lateral approach in patients with a femoral neck fracture appears to be associated with more positive Trendelenburg tests than the anterolateral approach, indicating a poor clinical outcome.