Comparing On-Table vs Off-Table Total Hip Arthroplasty Via the Direct Anterior Approach: A Prospective Randomized Trial

Brief Summary

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND: The Direct Anterior Approach (DAA) for total hip arthroplasty (THA) has become increasingly popular in the US over the last decade (Berry \& Bozic, 2010). Major limitations of the DAA with traction table include the need for an additional surgeon's assistant, a traction table operator, and the purchase of said table. To counter these limitations, some surgeons advocate for the performing the DAA with a conventional operating room table {Cohen, 2017;Molenaers, 2017}. However to date, there are no studies directly comparing the efficiency and efficacy of these two techniques for DAA. OBJECTIVE: Currently, it is unclear which surgical technique is more efficient and effective for total hip arthroplasties (THA). We hypothesize that there will be an increase in efficiency as measured by time when performing a standard operating table (Off-Table) DAA THA when compared to a purpose built traction table (On-Table) DAA THA. In addition, there will be less pain and faster functional recovery in the early post-operative period for patients who underwent an "Off-Table" DAA THA when compared to an "On-Table" DAA THA. SPECIFIC AIMS: 1) Determine whether there is a difference in operating room efficiency between surgeries after a THA via DAA with a standard OR table versus a purpose-built traction table; 2) examine whether there is a difference in early post-operative pain and clinical outcomes when comparing patients who underwent a THA via the DAA with a standard OR table versus a purpose built traction table. 3) report differences in complication rates between those two. METHODS: This is a prospective randomized clinical trial that will evaluate adult patients admitted to Carilion Clinic undergoing primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty. Off and on table DAA procedures will be performed by a single surgeon with multiple years of training and experience in both. Cluster randomization will be performed where patients will be randomized through scheduling. Demographic data will be collected. Operative records will be used to record operative times for each approach. Radiographs to assess implant positioning on postoperative day 0. The primary outcome variables are intra-operative data such as time the patient enters the operating room, time of incision, time of dressing application, exit room time, implants used, operative report. For secondary outcome variables, we will assess at 2 and 6 week follow ups routine Patient-Reported Outcome Measures including narcotic utilization based on pill count and MEq, and the PROMIS and HOOS, JR. measures. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: We expect that the Off-table DAA technique will be associated with faster set up, surgical time, and overall room time when compared to the On-table approach. Additionally, we expect less early post-operative pain in the groin, knee and ankle. We expect that the patient report outcome measures at 2 and 6 weeks post-op for the off-table DAA group will be equivalent or better than the on-table DAA group. Finally we expect no difference in complication rate.

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes

• Narcotic Utillization(2 weeks post op pill count)
• Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System/Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Joint Replacement scores(pre-op, 2 weeks post-op, 6 weeks post op, 1 year post op)
• Visual Analog Scale scores(pre-op, 2 weeks post-op, 6 weeks post op, 1 year post op)