Total Hip Replacement Surgery
American baby boomers are aging, and some of them are finding that in order to maintain their quality of life they may need a hip replacement. However, many people that are in need of a hip replacement are otherwise healthy and have an active life and career. A number of patients have decided against surgery because they cannot afford to take weeks out of their lives to recover from a painful surgery. The thought of being a burden to their family and friends for that amount of time also deters many from making the choice to go under the knife.
Total Hip Replacement Surgery
But what if there was a new kind of approach to hip replacement surgery and some of these worries could be lessened? Now there is. Anterior hip replacement surgery is a relatively new approach that offers people hope of a much quicker recovery time. There are many benefits to the anterior approach. In this article I will outline the differences between traditional hip replacement and the anterior hip replacement approach. Information is a very important tool that will assist you in making an educated decision for yourself or your loved one.
Total Hip Replacement Surgery
Traditional hip replacement surgery typically has a six to twelve week recovery time and a four to six day stay in the hospital. There is a ten to twelve inch incision for this surgery and surgeons make the incision from the back or side. Because of the angle that surgeons are coming in from, the muscles have to be cut from the pelvis and femur. A risk of the large incision is significant blood loss; therefore a transfusion may be required. After surgery, physical therapy starts as soon as the patient can tolerate it, however, the therapy is limited due to the muscles that have recently been removed and reattached.
Anterior hip replacement surgery has a two to six week recovery time and the typical length of the patient’s hospital stay is two to three days. The incision is smaller than in the traditional replacement technique, usually ranging from four to five inches. Another benefit of the smaller incision besides having a smaller scar and quicker recovery is that the possibility of needing a blood transfusion during surgery decreases significantly. This approach to hip replacement also allows the surgeon to replace the hip without detaching the muscle from the pelvis and femur because they are going in from the front. The technique also allows a wider range of motion after the surgery and some patients bear full weight within days, depending on the individual. Less recovery time and the ability to function normally or with minimal help will be beneficial for those that have busy lives and careers to return to.
The main reason that anterior hip replacement surgery is so different is not only in the technique that the surgeon uses. The surgical table used allows the surgeon to access different parts of the hip, bones, and muscles so that there will be less disruption to the surrounding tissues. This also has been proven to reduce the number of dislocations after surgery.
Choosing the right treatment and surgery can be a difficult process, whether it is you or a loved one that has to make the choice. With the proper information, this choice can be a little easier. Surgery is never easy, and it is always something we do not look forward to. Having more than one option for hip replacement surgery, especially when there are so many benefits to the anterior approach, your decision may be that much easier.
Dr. Joel Matta is an orthopedic surgeon and the founder and director of the Hip and Pelvis Institute at St John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. He is accredited with the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Dr. Matta has performed over 600 total hip replacement surgeries using the anterior approach. More information about the anterior approach can be found at http://www.hipandpelvis.com
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