Hip Replacement in a High Volume Community Hospital: Effect on Length of Stay and Hospital Cost
Hip Replacement in a High Volume Community Hospital: Effect on Length of Stay and Hospital Cost
The investigators propose to evaluate and compare the percentage of patients who are able to
 be discharged in less than 3 days after undergoing total hip arthroscopy through either a
 direct anterior or posterior approach, utilizing the identical post operative protocol. The
 investigators also propose to evaluate the costs associated with the two different approaches
 to hip replacement in the same group of patients. Post operative resource utilization,
 discharge disposition, and pain medicine requirement will also be evaluated.
The investigators hypothesize that a higher proportion of patients treated with the direct
 anterior approach for hip replacement will be able to leave the hospital in less than 3 days
 when compared with a less invasive posterior approach. Secondly, decreased length of stay
 associated with the procedure may reduce hospital costs.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Consecutive single surgeon series of patients who have undergone primary uncemented
 hip replacement at our institution through either a posterior approach or direct
 anterior approach on a fracture table. Posterior approach patient - most recent
 patient prior to March, 2010, compared with consecutive recent anterior approach
 patients with minimum of 6 month follow-up.

 2. Diagnosis of osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, or avascular necrosis.

 3. No previous surgery on affected hip.

 4. Age 40-90 at time of surgery

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Patient not permitted to bear full weight after the procedure, per post operative
 instructions

 2. Hip replacement performed for acute fracture.

 3. Previous hip surgery.