Direct Anterior Approach to Total Hip Arthroplasty Improves the Likelihood of Return to Previous Recreational Activities Compared with Posterior Approach

Total hip arthroplasty offers relief and functional improvement, with the rate of direct anterior approach (DAA) increasing compared with the posterior approach (PA). This study aimed to assess the effect of surgical approach on return to recreational activity after total hip arthroplasty. Total hip arthroplasty performed for primary or posttraumatic osteoarthritis were identified; 100 DAA patients were matched with 100 PA patients on age, sex, diagnosis, and surgical year. Patients were mailed a recreational activity survey, Harris Hip Function, and Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score questionnaires. Two hundred surveys were mailed, 130 (65%) responded (66 DAA and 64 PA) and were included. The mean follow-up was 2.5 years for the DAA group and 2.3 years for the PA group (P = 0.256). Among DAA patients, 51% returned to activity within 6 months, compared with 44% of PA patients (P = 0.360). Among those who returned to activity, 71% in the DAA group tried their main presurgery sport, compared with 53% in the PA group (P = 0.019). Twenty-eight percent of DAA patients and 4% of PA patients reported the surgical approach influenced their return to activity (P = 0.001). Outcome scores were clinically similar between groups. Objective data did not favor one approach over the other.