The BMI Factor: Why Direct Anterior THA Takes Longer for Obese Patients

How higher ASA physical status scores in direct anterior THA patients are linked to significantly greater 90-day hospital readmission rates.

Operative time is related to complications in total joint replacement, including total hip arthroplasty (THA). Longer operating times for the direct anterior (DA) approach THA have been documented, and some have linked operative duration to complications.

We set out to compare procedure and anesthesia duration in DA and posterior approach primary THAs performed in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and their relationship to nontraumatic all-cause, surgical, and medical readmissions within 90 days of discharge for the index procedures.