Surgical Approach to the Hip: Direct Lateral Approach

The direct lateral approach was first described and named the transgluteal approach by Bauer in 1979 and was popularized by Hardinge K in 1982. In total hip arthroplasty, the direct lateral approach offers distinct advantages for the orientation of implants, access to both the acetabulum and proximal femur, and the preservation of soft tissue continuity between the gluteus medius and vastus lateralis muscle group. It can also be quite versatile, even in cases requiring extensive exposure, such as revision arthroplasty. The disadvantages include a risk of superior gluteal nerve injury, disruption of the repaired abductor mechanism, and postoperative heterotopic ossification. This review describes the surgical exposure of the direct lateral approach as well as the advantages and potential complications of the direct lateral approach.

A modified bauer approach to the hip in the joint prosthesis / 临床外科杂志

Objective To assess the reliability of the modified lateral transgluteal approach (modified Bauer approach) to the hip for the joint prosthesis.Method The Bauer approach modification was used for 43 hip endoprosthetic replacement.Results The modified approach provided good exposure of the hip for arthroplasty, and early chance of function recovery.Excellent and good rate was 96.97% according to Harris result evaluation. No evidence of weakness of abductors of the hip and damage to superior glouteal nerve was found at six months.Conclusion The modified Bauer approach is reliable and recommendable for primary hip replacement because of its good exposure of the hip and the least disturbance to the abductor function.