Benefits of Anterior Hip Replacement Surgery
Joint replacement is constantly evolving. At The Steadman Clinic, Dr. Cafferky is dedicated to giving his hip replacement patients the best possible outcomes. An anterior approach to total hip replacement surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that has several advantages over the posterior approach.
Here are the benefits of an anterior hip replacement, how it differs from previous surgical methods, and what you can expect from your surgery.
What is an Anterior Hip Replacement?
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The head of your femur (thighbone) fits into the acetabulum (the socket in your pelvis). The inside of the ball and socket is covered by cartilage, and muscles and ligaments hold the joint together.
When the hip joint is damaged, usually due to arthritis, Dr. Cafferky may recommend a hip replacement to:
Ease pain
Replace damaged bone and cartilage
Improve movement
Restore quality of life
Hip replacement surgery can be performed one of three ways: from the front, side, or behind the hip. An anterior hip replacement refers to the procedure performed from the front of the hip. There are some critical differences between an anterior hip replacement and the other approaches, including:
The incision is smaller, only 3-4 inches, compared to the 12-inch incision of the posterior and lateral approach
Unlike the posterior and lateral, an anterior approach does not involve cutting into muscles and tendons
The procedure is more technically demanding as the anterior approach provides a more restricted view of the hip joint
Skilled joint replacement surgeons, such as Dr. Cafferky, consider the anterior approach less invasive and often recommend it to qualifying patients for the best possible outcome.
What are the Benefits of an Anterior Hip Replacement?
There are several benefits for an anterior hip replacement, including:
Less postoperative pain
Less muscle trauma
Reduced blood loss
Minimal scarring
Faster healing
Easier recovery
More negligible risk of hip dislocations
Additionally, anterior hip replacement surgery is considered an outpatient procedure, meaning patients can leave the hospital hours after surgery and recover in the comfort of their own home.
There are a few conditions that can make patients unfit for this approach. That includes patients with:
Hip implants or hardware from a previous surgery
Muscle or obese body types
A wider pelvis
Although all surgeries have risks, a hip replacement procedure is among the safest operations performed in the United States. The anterior approach has similar surgical risks as the posterior and lateral methods, such as infections and blood clots. However, the anterior hip replacement does carry the unique risk of numbness along the thigh.
It’s worth noting that no clinical study has demonstrated the superiority of one hip replacement approach over the other. While anterior hip replacement surgery does have benefits to your recovery, the results of the surgeries are similar in terms of pain relief and improving hip function.
Considering a Hip Replacement? Contact Team Cafferky!
If you are considering hip replacement surgery, contact Dr. Cafferky at The Steadman Clinic today! As one of the leading experts in joint replacement, Dr. Cafferky is skilled in the anterior approach and dedicated to giving his patients the best possible outcomes.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Cafferky and his team by calling (970) 476-1100 or through his online appointment request form.
