We sought to identify patient and surgical risk factors for wound complication following direct anterior total hip arthroplasty (THA) and to compare these findings with a group of posterior approach patients. We retrospectively reviewed 716 direct anterior THAs performed by a single surgeon and 3040 posterior THAs from our institution performed from 2010 to 2014. Wound complications were noted in 1.7% of DA cases and 1.9% of posterior cases (P=0.76). Obesity was a stronger risk factor for wound complication in DA patients (HR 4.3, P=0.018) than in posterior approach patients (HR 1.4, P=0.22). The increased risk of wound complication should be taken into consideration prior to direct anterior THA in obese patients.
Keywords: complication; direct anterior; obesity; total hip arthroplasty; wound.
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