What is Total Joint Replacement Surgery?
Total joint replacement surgery is one of the most advanced successful procedures in patients dealing with severe hip and knee pain. The goal of the surgery is to relieve pain and restore the normal functioning of the joint and help patient resume normal activities.
What is Total Hip Replacement?
Total hip replacement is a surgical procedure in which the damaged cartilage and bone is removed from the hip joint and replaced with artificial components. The hip joint is one of the body's largest weight-bearing joints, located between the thighbone (femur) and the pelvis (acetabulum). It is a ball and socket joint in which the head of the femur is the ball and the pelvic acetabulum forms the socket. The joint surface is covered by a smooth articular cartilage which acts as a cushion and enables smooth movements of the joint.
Indications of Total Hip Replacement
Several diseases and conditions can cause damage to the articular cartilage. Total hip replacement surgery is an option to relieve severe arthritis pain that limits your daily activities.
Anterior Hip Replacement
Over the past few years, there have been great advances in the treatment options, implants, and minimally invasive techniques. Anterior hip replacement has gained popularity in recent years because of the potential for more rapid recovery, especially early on, since no muscles or tendons need to be cut to access the hip joint through the anterior approach. This procedure does not require general anesthesia and can be done under nerve block. Most patients are up and walking the same day and go home either the same day or the morning after surgery.
What is Direct Anterior Approach Hip Replacement Surgery?
Direct Anterior Hip Replacement is a minimally invasive hip surgery to replace the hip joint without cutting through any muscles or tendons. Traditional hip replacement involves cutting major muscles to access the hip joint. Normally, after a traditional hip replacement, your surgeon would give you instructions on hip precautions to allow the cut muscles to heal.
However, for anterior hip replacement patients, hip precautions are not necessary as no muscles are cut.
Advantages of both anterior hip replacements include:
Less post-operative pain
Minimal soft-tissue trauma
Smaller incision
Less scarring
Minimal blood loss
Shorter operative time
Quicker recovery
Early mobilization
Less postoperative restrictions
Quicker return to normal activities
Short hospital stay
More accurate implant positioning