Rottinger approach with dual-mobility cup to improve functional recovery in hip osteoarthritis patients: biomechanical and clinical follow-up

Purpose We assumed that the combination of dual-mobility total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the minimally-invasive Rottinger anterolateral approach could guarantee hip stability with faster functional recovery. We objectively analyzed functional improvement after dual-mobility THA by quantitative gait analysis. Methods We compared the results achieved following two different surgical approaches: Rottinger's versus Moore's approach (posterolateral approach). We included 70 patients in an open prospective single-centre study: 38 by Rottinger's approach (age = 67yo) and 32 by Moores's approach (age = 68yo). Clinical and biomechanical analysis (kinematic and kinetic parameters of the hip) were conducted at the pre-operative period and at six months post-op Results We found a significant improvement in all clinical scores and all biomechanical parameters but no difference was found between the two approaches. However, the study showed marked clinical, biomechanical and functional improvements for patients treated with dual-mobility THA for osteoarthritis without complete hip recovery compared with a control group. Conclusions The combination of the Rottinger approach with a dual-mobility cup remains a valid choice for primary THA without functional advantage at midterm.