Early Complications of Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) Using Primary Total Hip Prostheses (THP) Performed via the Röttinger Anterolateral Approach

Introduction: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a total hip prosthesis (THP) has been a routine surgical procedure at Paul VI Hospital in Ouagadougou since 2004, performed as part of a medical mission. It is performed every year in February and December by a Belgian and German team. The objective of this study was to describe the early complications encountered after more than fifteen years of experience. Methodology: This was a prospective descriptive study conducted over a two-year period (December 2021-December 2023). It included 147 hips that underwent primary total hip arthroplasty via the Röttinger anterolateral approach (133 unilateral and 7 bilateral). The mean age was 45 years [18-65], and the sex ratio was 1.12. Femoral head necrosis (FHN) was the indication for total hip arthroplasty in 95.2% of cases. The arthroplasties were cementless in 74% of cases. Patients were regularly followed up at 21, 45, 90, 180, and 360 days for radiographic and clinical evaluation. Early complications were analyzed with a mean follow-up of 19 months [12-24]. Results: Early complications were observed in 14 cases (9.5%). These were intraoperative complications, including one case (0.68%) of a diaphyseal fracture of the femur; one case (0.68%) of cement-bone sequestration syndrome, and seven cases (4.76%) of nerve damage, including six cases of femoral nerve neurapathy and one case of severe nerve damage. Postoperative complications included one (1) case (0.68%) of early postoperative infection (0.68%), three (3) cases of early prosthetic dislocation (2.04%), and one (1) case of early loosening of an uncemented cup (0.68%). Conclusion: Complications of total hip arthroplasty observed in our practice were infrequent and comparable to those described in the literature. Keywords: complications, total hip arthroplasty; total hip prosthesis, Röttinger's anterolateral approach.