The anterolateral approach with the patient in lateral position

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) by the anterolateral approach is described in this chapter. This method is a muscle preserving modification of the conventional Watson-Jones approach [1]. A major problem with the conventional approach was that it involved detachment of abductors (gluteus minimus and often gluteus medius) from the greater trochanter. Although abductor detachment gave good exposure of the hip joint for THA, it often resulted in dislocations and permanent postoperative limping [2-4]. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.