Smith-petersen approach to the hip

The anterior approach to the hip is a musclesparing exposure that preserves the blood supply to the native femoral head. From its earliest description, the anterior approach has been utilized from irrigation of the hip joint to surgical dislocations of the hip and, more recently, to total hip arthroplasty. Modifications to the true Hueter or Smith-Petersen anterior approach have led to fewer complications with the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. This chapter will describe the surgical technique for the modified Hueter/Smith-Petersen anterior approach to the hip.