Surgical Approaches in Total Hip Arthroplasty: Does the Choice Between Direct Anterior and Direct Lateral Affect Blood Loss?

Background Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the treatment of choice for end-stage hip osteoarthritis and displaced femoral neck fractures in the active elderly. While the direct anterior (DA) and direct lateral (DL) approaches are commonly used in THA, the impact of these approaches on blood loss remains a subject of debate. This study aims to compare the extent of blood loss associated with the DA and DL approaches in THA. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 278 patients who underwent THA using either the DA or DL approach at a single medical center between January 2014 and October 2020. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels were measured preoperatively and on postoperative day 1 (POD1) to assess blood loss. We also collected data on demographic variables, comorbidities, operative time, and other relevant clinical factors. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate differences between the two surgical approaches. Results The mean postoperative reduction in Hb levels was -2.49 ± 1.11 g/dL in the DA group, and -2.25 ± 1.14 g/dL in the DL group, with no statistically significant difference observed (p = 0.069). Although the DL approach was associated with longer operative times (p = 0.003), both approaches resulted in comparable blood loss. When stratified by surgical indication, a statistically significant difference in Hb loss was found only in trauma patients, with greater loss in the DA group (p = 0.048). Despite these findings, the clinical significance of these differences remains limited. Conclusions Our study suggests that the choice between the DA and DL approaches does not significantly impact blood loss in THA. The findings indicate that surgical expertise and patient-specific factors should guide the selection of the surgical approach, rather than concerns over blood loss alone. Further research with larger, more diverse cohorts is needed to validate these findings and explore other potential benefits or drawbacks of each approach.