A Randomised Trial Comparing Anterior Versus Posterior Approach in Total Hip Replacement

Inclusion Criteria: * Males and females aged 18-75 years at time of surgery. * Those presenting with primary or secondary osteoarthritis and/or rheumatoid arthritis of the hip. * Those deemed capable of giving informed consent, understanding the aims of the study and expressing willingness to comply with the post-operative review programme. * Patients who signed the study consent form prior to surgery. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women or women who plan to conceive in the future. * Those whose prospects for a recovery to independent mobility would be compromised by known coexistent, medical problems. * Those already treated by with a Total Hip Replacement (THR) (i.e. requiring a revision hip replacement). * Those with co-existent ipsilateral knee disease or back problems * Muscle contracture around the hip joint * Individuals who have undergone organ transplant. * Those with a known co-existent medical condition where death is anticipated within five years due to the pre-existing medical condition. * Individuals who have had a THR on the contra-lateral side within the 6 months. * Individuals who have undergone a THR on the contralateral side and whose outcome is considered unsatisfactory or not good. An unsatisfactory or poor result is defined as achieving a total UCLA score (including activity) \< 16 points. * Individuals requiring bilateral hip replacement. * Individuals whose body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) \>35. * Individuals with active or suspected infection or sepsis. * Individuals with renal failure and/or renal insufficiency. * Patients with severe forms of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH): Crowe types II, III, IV.