Comparison of skin blood flow between mini- and standard-incision approaches during total hip arthroplasty

Twenty patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty were randomly allocated to have surgery through a mini incision of <= 8 cm (mini-incision surgery [MIS] group, n = 10) or a standard incision of 14 cm (standard group, n = 10). A laser Doppler flowmeter was used to measure the intraoperative blood flow of the skin. The measurements were performed at 2 regions, specifically, anterior and posterior regions across the middle points of skin incision. The measurements were taken before making the incision and after implantation. As a control, the skin blood flow over the anterior superior iliac spine was measured. After implantation, mean skin blood flows at both regions in the MIS group were significantly decreased by 32% and 33%. However, the corresponding flows in standard group and control regions were constant during operation.