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Hip: R. Steffen, K. O’Rourke, H. S. Gill, and D. W. Murray The anterolateral approach leads to less disruption of the femoral head-neck blood supply than the posterior approach during hip resurfacing J Bone Joint Surg Br 2007; 89-B: 1293-1298 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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The anterolateral approach leads to less disruption of the femoral head-neck blood supply

Kiran K Singisetti   (12 November 2007)

The anterolateral approach leads to less disruption of the femoral head-neck blood supply 12 November 2007
Kiran K Singisetti, Specialty Registrar 2 (Orthopaedics) Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead Send letter to journal: Re: The anterolateral approach leads to less disruption of the femoral head-neck blood supply kiransingisetti{at}gmail.com Kiran K Singisetti	Sir, I read this article with interest and would like to cite a similar article by Khan et al1 who found the posterolateral approach to significantly reduce the blood supply of the femoral head when compared with the transgluteal approach during hip resurfacing. They studied the concentration of cefuroxime as an indirect measure of blood flow as compared with the oxygen concentration in the present study. It would be interesting to know if this is also seen by more direct methods of measurement such as laser Doppler flowmetry,2 SPECT3 or angiography, and also whether there is any direct evidence of the effect of surgical approach on the incidence of fracture of the neck of the femur in hip resurfacing. K.K. Singisetti, MS,MRCS(Edin), StR 2 (Trauma and Orthopaedics), Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK. 1. Khan A, Yates P, Lovering A, Bannister GC, Spencer RF. The effect of surgical approach on blood flow to the femoral head during resurfacing. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 2007;89-B:21-5. 2. Beaulé PE, Campbell PA, Hoke R, Dorey F. Notching of the femoral neck during resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip: a vascular study. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 2006;88-B:35-9. 3. Calder SJ, McCaskie AW, Belton IP, Finlay DB, Harper WM. Single-photon-emission computerised tomography compared with planar bone scan to assess femoral head vascularity. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 1995;77-B:637-9.