There was no major difference in the rate of complications .
Conclusions Short-term recovery favors limited incision over st and ard incision THA .
Background The literature comparing  limited incision and st and ard incision THAs  is confusing regarding whether limited incision THA improves short-term recovery without compromising long-term durability and survival .
Further , previously published meta-analyses can not conclude that limited incision THA is better .
With new data , we seek to discover if the answers now exist .
Purpose We used meta- analysis to compare surgical and hospitalization data , clinical outcomes , and complication rates , and thus ( 1 ) confirm whether limited incision THA is at least comparable to st and ard incision THA ; and ( 2 ) determine whether limited incision THA is an improvement over st and ard incision THA .
Minimally Invasive versus Classic Procedures in Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Background For total hip arthroplasty ( THA ) , minimally invasive surgery ( MIS ) uses a smaller incision and less muscle dissection than the classic approach ( CLASS ) , and may lead to faster rehabilitation . Questions / purpose sDoes minimally invasive hip arthroplasty result in superior clinical outcomes ? Patients and Methods In this double-blind r and omized controlled trial , 120 consecutive primary noncemented THAs in 120 patients were assigned to one of two groups ( MIS or CLASS ) . The r and omization sequence was stratified for two groups of surgeons , ie , those using a posterolateral approach ( PL-CLASS or PL-MIS ) and those using an anterolateral approach ( AL-CLASS or AL-MIS ) . Length of the incisions was 18 cm for the CLASS procedures . MIS incisions were extended at the skin level to 18 cm at the end of the procedure . The primary end point was the Harris hip score ( HHS ) at 6 weeks postoperatively . Patient-centered question naires were obtained preoperatively and after 6 weeks and 1 year . Results For the patients in the MIS group ( average 7.8 cm incision length ) , statistically significant increased mean HHSs were seen compared with the CLASS group at 6 weeks and 1 year . This difference was small and mainly caused by the favorable results of the PL-MIS . In the MIS group , surgical time was longer . A learning curve was observed based on operation time and complication rate . Although not statistically significant , the perioperative complication rate was rather high in the ( anterolateral ) MIS group . Conclusions The minimal invasive approach in THA did not show a clinical ly relevant superior outcome in the first postoperative year . Level of Evidence Level I , therapeutic study . See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence
There was no major difference in the rate of complications .
Conclusions Short-term recovery favors limited incision over st and ard incision THA .
Background The literature comparing  limited incision and st and ard incision THAs  is confusing regarding whether limited incision THA improves short-term recovery without compromising long-term durability and survival .
Further , previously published meta-analyses can not conclude that limited incision THA is better .
With new data , we seek to discover if the answers now exist .
Purpose We used meta- analysis to compare surgical and hospitalization data , clinical outcomes , and complication rates , and thus ( 1 ) confirm whether limited incision THA is at least comparable to st and ard incision THA ; and ( 2 ) determine whether limited incision THA is an improvement over st and ard incision THA .