Total hip replacement surgery is one of the most common and popular surgical procedures done annually in the U.S. and has a high success rate (> 95%) by most accountings. Nevertheless, there are differences in how a hip replacement is done. Notable is that the vast majority of hip replacement surgeries are done through an approach known as “posterior,” where big hip muscles are cut across and detached to gain entrance to the hip joint; and which have to be repaired at the end of the replacement procedure. These muscles take months to heal and this results in a long recovery process, increasing the risk of hip dislocation, leg length discrepancies and the need for blood transfusions.
As part of the advanced treatment techniques performed at The Joint Care Center at Landmark, most hip surgeons perform replacement surgery with a technique known as “the direct anterior approach.” This approach features a small, muscle-preserving incision, which splits between the muscles at the front of the hip joint, never cutting or detaching any of the hip muscles. Additionally, by employing a special operating table designed specifically for the anterior approach, the surgeon is able to guide the hip implant into position with the use of live action fluoroscopic X-ray to assure proper positioning and equal leg length.
Patients awaken with far less pain, are able to walk immediately and often independently; and have little concern for hip dislocation or leg length discrepancy, all problems frequently associated with a posterior approach. In general, recovery with this approach is considerably faster than with other surgical approaches and the implant is more stable and more accurately placed.