If hip pain is getting in the way of you living your best life, then you are probably a great candidate for hip replacement surgery(arthroplasty). Hundreds of thousands of these surgeries are performed every year in the United States.1 The procedure removes the diseased area of the hip and replaces it with artificial components in order to reduce pain and increase mobility. Physicians use three different approaches when performing a hip replacement; Lateral approach(side of hip), posterior approach(from behind the hip), and anterior approach(front of the hip). The anterior approach, also known as the muscle-sparing approach, is gaining popularity as it is less invasive than the other approaches.
Through the anterior approach, the surgeon gains access to the hip joint through a small incision located in the front of the hip. This incision is much smaller, measuring approximately 2-5 inches long as opposed to the posterior or lateral approach at 8-10 inches long. Instead of cutting the muscles attached to the pelvis, thigh, and gluteus, they are simply moved. This causes less damage to the soft tissues which results in fewer complications and quicker healing. Because the muscles are not cut, the risk of future hip dislocations decreases which leads to fewer restrictions and increased mobility sooner.
Benefits may include:
- Minimal soft tissue damage
- Less pain
- Reduced hip dislocations
- Less scarring
- Shorter surgical time
- Fewer postoperative restrictions
- Fewer blood clots
- Quicker recovery
The ultimate goal of any hip replacement surgery is to decrease the patient’s pain and improve mobility. Though there are a few different approaches, your surgeon will make an assessment based on your health, age, lifestyle, and bone health to determine which approach is best suited for you.
David N. Buchalter, MD specializes in hip replacement surgery at an advanced level of care, integrating the newest cutting-edge surgical and nonsurgical techniques, with proven traditional methods of treatments. The physicians at South Palm Orthopedics are committed to providing the highest level of orthopedic care to each and every patient each and every time.