A systematic review and meta-analysis of complications following the posterior and lateral surgical approaches to total hip arthroplasty

Compared with the lateral approach, the posterior approach conferred a significant reduction in the risk of Trendelenburg gait (odds ratio OR: 0.31, p=0.0002) and stem malposition (OR: 0.24, p=0.02), and a non-significant reduction in dislocation (OR: 0.37, p=0.16) and heterotopic ossification (OR: 0.41, p=0.13). Neither approach conferred a functional advantage. We draw attention to the paucity of evidence and the need for a further randomised trial.