Dislocation after total hip arthroplasty: a randomized clinical trial of a posterior approach and a modified lateral approach.

196 hips undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty were randomized to two different surgical techniques to examine rates of dislocation and complication postoperatively. Patients were randomized to a posterior approach with soft tissue repair or a lateral approach to THA. Results from a mean follow-up of 37.9 months demonstrated that the lateral approach had a greater occurrence of dislocation and fracture complication, indicating that the posterior approach provided a reduction in complication rates.