How Durable is the Posterior Soft Tissue Repair After Total Hip Arthroplasty in Primary Osteoarthiritis Patients?

A total of 42 consecutive THA patients (20 women,22 men) operated for primary osteoarthritis (OA) between 2018 and 2019 were included in the study. All patients were operated by the same orthopaedic surgeon under spinal anaesthesia via posterior approach using the same type of uncemented Polar stem(Smith and Nephew Inc) with 36 mm head in combination with uncemented Ep-Fit acetabular cup (Smith and Nephew Inc). All the patients were randomly divided into two groups. The randomization process was done by the odd and even number technique in which the patients with even inpatient numbers were assigned in Group A while the odd inpatient number patients were allotted in Group B. Patients in whom number 5 Ethibond Excel(Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) were used for soft tissue repair were included in Group A (n=22), whereas patients treated with number 2 Vicryl (Ethicon, Somerville,NJ)were in Group B (n=20).

The short external rotators tendons were released from the greater trochanter just at their insertion point. The capsule was incised, but not excised. The posterior repair included reattaching the piriformis,conjoined tendons and the capsule to the greater trochanter at the insertion point through 2, 2 mm drill holes with 2 stitches with non-absorbable no.5 Ethibond suture in one group and with absorbable no 2 vicryl suture in the other group after the prosthesis had been implanted and the joint reduced. One hemoclip was attached to the piriformis tendon and another to the conjoined tendons before pulling the sutures out of the drill holes in the trochanter. The suture materials lateral to the drill holes at the trochanter were also attached with two hemoclips.(fig 1-2) The postoperative regimen included walking with full weight bearing the next day after the surgery with a walking frame and without limitations in internal rotation or flexion. Anteroposterior radiographic examination was undertaken immediately after the patients returned from the operating theatre to the intensive care unit,at the 15th day, at 3 months and 6 months postoperatively (figure 3). The detachment of the hemoclips were measured during the follow up period.