Randomized Clinical Trial of 2-Incision vs Mini-Posterior Total Hip Arthroplasty: Differences Persist at 10 Years.

BACKGROUND: A previous randomized clinical trial at our institution demonstrated slower recovery of 35 2-incision total hip arthroplasties (THAs) when compared with 36 mini-posterior THAs at 2 years. The primary aim of the present study was to report concise 10-year follow-up results.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the 71 patients in the previous randomized clinical trial, comparing clinical outcomes, revisions, reoperations, and implant survivorship between the 2-incision and the mini-posterior THAs.

RESULTS: At the most recent follow-up, the mean Harris hip score was 85 in the 2-incision group and 87 in the mini-posterior group (P = .4). There were 4 revisions and 2 reoperations (16%) in the 2-incision group vs 1 revision and 3 reoperations (11%) in the mini-posterior group (P = .5). Ten-year survivorship free of aseptic revision or reoperation was 77% in the 2-incision group vs 90% in the mini-posterior group (P = .15).

CONCLUSION: There were no improvements in early or midterm clinical outcomes with the 2-incision technique. However, there was a clinical trend toward a higher rate of aseptic revisions in the 2-incision THA group.