ANTERIOR HIP REPLACEMENT
When it comes to hip replacement surgery, there are a number of procedure options and only your doctor can tell you which is right for you. Schedule an appointment now with an OA surgeon specializing in Anterior Hip Replacement.
Pain in Hip Joint
Hip replacements are a highly effective and efficient way to treat arthritis of the hip, either from wear and tear or from the effects of trauma in many patients. Hip replacement has been around for several decades and has proven to be a quality way to alleviate pain and suffering and increase mobility and function in patients who suffer this affliction. Age, activity level, Body Mass Index, etc. are all factors in determining which hip replacement you will be best suited for.
Traditional surgery involves an 8-12 inch incision on the side or back of your leg. The Anterior procedure uses a 3-6 inch incision on the front of your leg. This allows your surgeon to have an optimized view of your hip joint during surgery. Using a special operating room table and special surgical techniques and equipment, the hip can be exposed and prepared with less muscle dissection and cutting.
This procedure also allows your surgeon to preserve the tissue that keeps your joint tight, which reduces the risk of dislocation after surgery. The backside of the hip is left intact allowing its thick capsule, muscular and ligament attachments to stabilize the hip. Sitting, driving a car, crossing your legs and doing other day-to-day activities are not affected by the risks of destabilizing the backside of the hip joint. The anterior approach does require removing the front side of the hip capsule, but most daily activities do not stress that ligamentous band of tissue.
Benefits of the Anterior Hip Replacement
• Accelerated recovery time and reduced pain, due to the minimal trauma to muscles, tendons and nerves.
• Reduced scarring from the use of a smaller incision than with traditional total hip replacement.
• More rapid stability of the hip, because the muscles are not disrupted during the procedure.
• Reduced postoperative restrictions on movement.
• Some patients see a shorter hospital stay.
• Less likely to experience limb length differences.
Surgical Risks
There still remain risks to any hip replacement such as infection, bleeding, damage to tissues and brief loss of function of smaller nerves from the surgical approach. The anterior hip replacement may involve some transient periods of numbness in the anterior thigh and may involve some restoration of strength of the front of the hip joint. However, it has been shown through many series that anterior hip replacements do provide an earlier return of function, mobilization of the patient and shorter length of time in the hospital with less pain.
Dr. Beck specializes in general orthopaedics and total joint replacement. Dr. Beck was one of the first surgeons in the area to perform anterior hip replacement. Dr. Czaplicki is an orthopaedic surgeon with a fellowship in joint replacement surgery. His additional training allows him expertise on challenging cases and revisions.
” We are striving to lead the way to introduce new technology and techniques for our patients at Orthopaedic Associates. With cooperation of the hospitals with which we work and acquiring these new devices, beds and implants as well as continuing education in the techniques of anterior hip replacement, we hope to be able to provide state-of-the-art joint replacement care for all patients in the region.” – Dr. Dennis Beck