Patient-Specific Approach Achieves Better Anteversion Accuracy Than Traditional THA Technique

Use of a patient-specific instrumentation technique during total hip arthroplasty resulted in significantly better anteversion accuracy compared with a standard approach, according to recent study results.

Researchers randomly assigned 36 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) to receive standard or patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) technique. The researchers used traditional techniques to complete the standard approach, whereas PSI cases were planned using a custom-designed 3-D surgical simulator and customized surgical instruments were manufactured. The researchers used postoperative computed tomography scans to compare planned results with actual results.

An average anteversion of 28.4 degrees and an average abduction of 43.5 degrees were seen in the standard group, compared with 18.5 degrees and 46.4 degrees, respectively, in the PSI group. Differences between planned and actual anteversion were –0.2 degres for the PSI group and –6.9 degrees for the standard group, which was considered statistically significant (P = .018). However, final abduction results, as well as the difference between actual and planned results were not statistically significant, indicating that the PSI approach was no more accurate that the standard approach in achieving desired location, according to the researchers.

There was one complication found in the standard group, and the PSI group presented no complications.