Published online Dec 26, 2019. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i24.4226
Peer-review started: August 17, 2019
First decision: September 23, 2019
Revised: October 20, 2019
Accepted: November 19, 2019
Article in press: November 19, 2019
Published online: December 26, 2019
Processing time: 129 Days and 21.7 Hours
Direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty is widely accepted and becoming more and more popular all over the world. More orthopedists have switched from posterior to anterior approaches. Although the procedure is generally the same, no consensus has been reached on some details.
In the direct anterior approach, there are different opinions on the treatment of the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery. The hope is that these studies will lead to a consensus on some of the details of direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty.
Whether ligation of the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery during direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty is advantageous in reducing bleeding and whether this procedure is necessary.
The manuscript compared the surgical bleeding, hemoglobin reduction, hematoma rate, and other indicators of two groups that received different treatments for the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery during direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty.
According to the results, the ligation of the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery was not a necessary procedure. Electrocautery is a simple and effective method. However, due to the small sample size and short follow-up time, further observation is needed to see whether there is any difference between the two treatment methods.
The intraoperative and postoperative blood loss were calculated to indirectly reflect vascular bleeding. Excision of the ascending branch of the lateral femoral artery by electrocautery did not increase bleeding. In the treatment of the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, cumbersome ligation can be replaced by electrocoagulation.
Ligation is unnecessary and should be replaced by electrocautery in the treatment of the lateral circumflex femoral artery during the direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty.