Evaluation of wound healing after direct anterior total hip arthroplasty with use of a novel retraction device

48 patients (50 surgical incisions) scheduled to undergo direct anterior total hip arthroplasty were randomized to have surgery with or without a ring retractor. This was done to determine whether the intraoperative use of a ring retractor for total hip arthroplasty allowed for improved scar cosmesis. Surgeons rated scar healing based on the Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale and the modified Manchester Scar Scale, and patients rated their scar satisfaction using a Likert Scale. Results indicated that there was only one time point at which the ring retraction group displayed significantly more favourable scar healing, whereas there was no significant difference in scar cosmesis between groups at any other time point.