Incidence of Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Dysfunction After Total Hip Arthroplasty Through the Anterior-Based Muscle-Sparing Surgical Approach.

Background: The anterior-based muscle-sparing (ABMS) approach, using the intramuscular interval between the tensor fascia lata and gluteus medius, is an increasingly popular total hip arthroplasty (THA) approach. Its incidence of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) numbness has not been defined. The incidence of LFCN symptoms in direct anterior THA ranges from 7%-32% at 1-year follow-up. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of LFCN symptoms in patients who underwent ABMS THA at 1-year follow-up.

Methods: This was a single-center, multisurgeon retrospective study of ABMS THAs with minimum 1-year follow-up data between January 2014 and September 2021. Eight hundred sixty-nine THAs were included. Mean age of the patients was 67.2 years, with 43.4% male and 56.5% female. Mean body mass index was 26.8, and mean American Society of Anesthesiologists was 2.3. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, 2-sample -test, and binomial logistic regression. A -value of .05 was considered statistically significant for all tests.

Results: Nine patients (1%) reported LFCN-associated symptoms at 1-year follow-up. The most common complaint was numbness (n = 5, 55.6%), followed by diminished sensation (n = 2, 22.2%), burning (n = 1, 11.1%), and generalized pain (11.1%). There was no difference in age, sex, body mass index, or American Society of Anesthesiologists between the group that experienced symptoms and the group that did not ( = 1.00,  = .34,  = .74,  = .80).

Conclusions: The incidence of LFCN dysfunction is 1% at 1 year after surgery with the ABMS approach. Additional studies may elucidate all risks and benefits of the ABMS approach with respect to LFCN injuries.