The risk of hospital readmission, revision, and intra- and postoperative complications between direct anterior versus posterior approaches in primary total hip arthroplasty: a stratified meta-analysis and a probability based cost projection

Introduction: This study presents stratified meta-analysis and projected cost per case analysis of direct anterior approach (DAA) versus posterior approach (PA) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) to determine the best surgical approach and guarantee hip joint longevity. Methods: Several online databases were searched for clinical trials comparing DAA and PA in primary THA. The stratified analysis was conducted to test for confounding and biases across the different types of included trials. The average cost and probability were used to determine projected added costs of medical and surgical management for complications. Results: 30 clinical trials included 11,562 patients who underwent THA. Almost 50% of these patients performed DAA. As compared to PA, both non-stratified and stratified analyses demonstrated that DAA has a significant higher incidence of the overall intra- and postoperative complications (non-stratified, OR 1.64; p = 0.003) (stratified, OR 4.12; p = 0.005), nerve injury (non-stratified, OR 22.0; p < 0.00001) (stratified, OR 0.28; p < 0.00001), higher rate of revision surgery (non-stratified; OR 1.54; p = 0.01) (stratified, OR 7.37; p = 0.006), and higher incidence of surgical wound complications (non-stratified; OR 1.67; p = 0.002) as compared to PA following primary THA. In addition, DAA demonstrated higher trends of incidence (non-statistically significant) of femur fracture (Non-stratified, OR 1.32, p = 0.10) and thrombo-embolic complications (Retrospective studies, OR 1.39, p = 0.69). However, PA demonstrated higher trends of incidence (non-statistically significant) of hip joint dislocation, as compared to DAA. (Stratified RCTs, OR 0.63, p = 0.65]. Collectively, this amounts a $421,068.68 surplus in DAA complication costs. Conclusions: PA may provide a more lucrative, safer approach to those undergoing THA given its comparable postoperative outcomes, reduced complication rates, and lower overall cost relative to DAA.