The anterior approach

Abstract

Minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty (THA) by the anterior approach is based on a resection-reconstruction technique that was pioneered by Robert Judet in 1947 [1-3]. Judet developed the technique in post-war France, at a time when surgeons were faced with an increased number of patients presenting with femoral neck fractures. He was able to use the experience gained from these pelvic operations in order to improve on the conventional anterior approach for hip arthroplasty, which until then had relied on larger incisions [4]. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.