Anterior Approach Total Hip Replacement
What is an Anterior Approach Total Hip Replacement?
The traditional posterior approach, while an effective option, results in a longer hospital stay and recovery time. An anterior approach total hip replacement (where your surgeon accesses the hip through an incision in the front of the body, minimizing muscle and tissue damage) can cause less pain and help decrease your recovery time, thus making it the recommended option for total hip replacement when available.
A majority of patients experience a vast improvement in mobility and pain relief following a hip replacement.
Who is a Candidate for an Anterior Approach Hip Replacement?
During a total hip replacement, the damaged ball and socket in the hip bone are removed and replaced with new prosthetic hardware. This procedure is typically recommended for patients who have experienced trauma to their hip or suffer from arthritis. During an anterior approach total hip replacement, your surgeon will make an incision on the front (anterior) of the body as opposed to the traditional posterior (back) approach. By making an anterior incision, patients experience faster recovery and less downtime as the surgeon is able to minimize cutting specific muscles and tissues.
Recovery and rehabilitation time can typically be reduced by several weeks using the anterior approach total hip replacement technique.
Hip replacement is recommended if you are experiencing:
- Hip stiffness limiting leg movement
- Consistent hip pain, even when resting
- Unsuccessful nonsurgical treatments for pain relief such as anti-inflammatory medication or physical therapy
- Hip pain that limits everyday activities
- Difficulty standing from a seated position
- Inability to walk up or downstairs
What Are the Differences Between an Anterior and Posterior Approach Total Hip Replacement?
During a total hip replacement, the damaged ball and socket in the hip bone are removed and replaced with new prosthetic hardware. This procedure is typically recommended for patients who have experienced trauma to their hip or suffer from arthritis. During an anterior approach total hip replacement, your surgeon will make an incision on the front (anterior) of the body as opposed to the traditional posterior (back) approach. By making an anterior incision, patients experience faster recovery and less downtime as the surgeon is able to minimize cutting specific muscles and tissues.
Recovery and rehabilitation time can typically be reduced by several weeks using the anterior approach total hip replacement technique.
Hip replacement is recommended if you are experiencing:
- Hip stiffness limiting leg movement
- Consistent hip pain, even when resting
- Unsuccessful nonsurgical treatments for pain relief such as anti-inflammatory medication or physical therapy
- Hip pain that limits everyday activities
- Difficulty standing from a seated position
- Inability to walk up or downstairs
Who is a Candidate for an Anterior Approach Hip Replacement?
Your surgeon will evaluate your condition and recommend a total hip replacement based on pain and disability, not age. While most patients are age 50 to 80, South Florida Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine is able to perform a total hip replacement successfully on patients of virtually anyone over the age of 18.
Patients benefiting from a total hip replacement often experience:
- Hip pain limiting normal activities
- Hip stiffness that restricts leg movement
- Pain in the hip, even when resting
- Unsuccessful conservative treatments including anti-inflammatory medication or physical therapy