Abstract: Objective　To explore the short-term clinical effects of femoral head replacement by modified posterolateral approach and traditional posterolateral approach.　Methods　A total of 60 patients who underwent unilateral artificial femoral head replacement were collected, of which 20 underwent a modified posterolateral approach with cutting off the quadratus femoris (improved group) and 40 underwent a conventional posterolateral approach (traditional group).The operation time, the blood loss volume, haemoglobin difference pre- and post-operation VAS scores and Harris scores, postoperative complications and first landing time were compared between the two groups.　Results　All 60 patients successfully completed the operation. Compared with the traditional group, the improved group had less intraoperative blood loss, earlier first landing time after operation, longer operation time, less hemoglobin difference, higher hip Harris scores 2 weeks after operation, lower VAS scores 24 hours after operation. Two groups were Ⅰ-stage healing of incision, 1 patients in the traditional group occurred prosthesis dislocation after operation,  no dislocation occurred again after 1 month by manualreduction and immobilization. There were no statistical differences in Harris score between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no complications or prosthesis loosening in both  groups during the last follow-up.　Conclusions　The modified posterolateral approach with cutting off the quadratus femoris has the advantages of less perioperative bleeding, less postoperative pain and faster postoperative recovery, but its long-term effect remains to be further observed.

Key words:  , Femoral head replacement, 　 Quadratus femoris, 　Posterolateral approach