OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of quadratus femoris protection and posterior soft tissue repair for the prevention of early dislocation in total hip arthroplasty through posterolateral approach.

METHODS: Clinical data of 326 patients from Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University with primary total hip arthroplasty through posterolateral approach from January 2013 to August 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. According to different strategies of soft tissue management, they were assigned to two groups: observation group (187 patients) and control group (139 patients). Protection of quadratus femoris and posterior soft tissue repair was carried up in observation group. Control group did not receive posterior soft tissue repair and quadratus femoris was partially damaged. Early dislocation was defined as the dislocation occurred within 3 months after operation. Effects of the two methods on early dislocation were compared after arthroplasty.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was one patient with dislocation in observation group (1/187, 0.5%) in the observation group and five patients with dislocation (5/139, 3.6%) in the control group. Dislocation rate was significantly higher in the control group than in the observation group (P < 0.05). Results suggested that in primary total hip arthroplasty through posterolateral approach, protection of quadratus femoris and posterior soft tissue repair will reduce early dislocation rate. Protection of quadratus femoris may play a role in keeping the balance of the soft tissue around the hip joint. 

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节；骨植入物；脊柱；骨折；内固定；数字化骨科；组织工程