ABSTRACT
When orthopedic surgeons discuss the direct anterior approach (DAA) to the hip, they talk about a surgical approach that has a history. The DAA, which exploits the transition between the sartorius muscle and the tensor fasciae latae muscle to reach the hip joint, has initially experienced a long phase of abandonment following the advent of other approaches with a broader view of anatomy: direct lateral and posterior approaches. A DAA is a method of inserting artificial joint through the front without cutting any muscles or damaging nerves. Preoperative planning is of paramount importance to obtain reproducible results in modern hip arthroplasty. Planning helps the surgeon to visualize the operation after careful review of the clinical and radiographic findings. In 1950, Judet theorized about the possibility to perform the DAA for prosthetic replacement. Despite the theoretical bases and anatomical evidence, the majority of orthopedic surgeons believed that the DAA was inadequate to obtain a good vision and exposure of the acetabulum.
