ABSTRACT
Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most successful proce-
dures introduced in the twentieth century. THA can be performed
through a variety of different exposures. Sir John Charnley, who
introduced cemented THA more than 40 years ago, championed the
merits of transtrochanteric osteotomy through the lateral approach.
He believed this approach not only provided excellent exposure
of the acetabulum but also allowed the surgeon to optimally
restore the abductor mechanism by trochanteric advancement.
Unfortunately, complications such as trochanteric nonunion and
heterotopic ossification (HO) were not uncommon, and today this
approach is rarely required for a primary reconstruction.
