Abstract:Objective To study the efficacy and experience of direct anterior approach (DAA) for total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods A total of 156 consecutive patients who accepted THA for the first time were selected for the study. Among them 82 cases chose posterior lateral approach (PLA) and 74 adopted DAA. Then the clinical effect was compared. Results The operation time in the two groups had no statistical difference (p > 0.05), while the blood loss during operation and the drainage volume were smaller, the drainage time after operation was shorter in the DAA group (p < 0.05). The perioperative complications were not statistically different between the two groups (p >0.05). The pain score of the DAA group was significantly lower than that of the PLA group 1, 3 and 7 d after operation (p < 0.05). The partial and total loading time,and the total stay-in hospital days were shorter in the DAA group (p < 0.05). The Harris score of hip joint function was significantly higher in the DAA group 1, 3 and 6 m after operation, and the hip joint function of the DAA group was better than that of the PLA group 6 m after operation (p <0.05). Conclusions DAA for total hip arthroplasty has the advantages of less injury, milder pain, shorter time to start early functional exercises, better improvement of hip joint function. It is greatly safe and effective.