Approximated 15% to 20% of hip replacement surgeries in the USA are currently using the anterior technique.
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What are the advantages of anterior hip replacement?
The main cause for patient recovery in hip replacements is the fast recovery adhering to both types of techniques, total and anterior. In most cases, Individuals are out of bed within a few hours of surgery and also are often home within 1 day of surgical treatment.
If the patient follows up with exercises already learned through pre-operative training, are begun right away post-operatively, the recovery can be rather rapid.
When looking into the two techniques, anterior hip replacement seems to have some benefits that numerous patients enjoy when they choose this technique of hip replacement. This consists of:
- Reduced muscular damage. The anterior technique avoids the sectioning of major muscular tissues. There are fewer muscles at the front of the hip, and also the cosmetic surgeon functions in between them, as opposed to sectioning through muscle mass or removing muscle mass from bones.
- Reduced pain. Patients usually experience less pain after surgical treatment and ask for less medication because the surgical treatment does not require cutting major muscle mass.
- Fast recovery. In the vast majority of cases, people can use crutches or a walker sooner than individuals who have actually had a total hip replacement. Patients might be able to walk on their own sooner, approximately 6 days earlier than individuals with the total technique.
- Reduced risk of hip dislocation. Many patients are concerned that the new hip’s ball and socket may dislocate. However, anterior hip replacement does not affect the muscular tissues or soft tissues that naturally avoid the hip from dislocating, therefore individuals are much less likely to endure a hip dislocation.
- High range of motion. Individuals may show a higher range of movement than patients with a total hip replacement, with the possibility to bend over or sit with their legs crossed without the risk of hip dislocations. The majority of patients with total hip replacement are told to avoid sitting with legs crossed for at least 6 to 8 weeks, as well as preventing deep bending at the hip or extreme internal rotation.
- Shorter time in a healthcare facility. A patient who undertakes anterior hip replacement can anticipate a shorter healthcare facility stay than with the total technique, yet much of this depends on the patient as well as the regularity of physical therapy sessions that individuals are given at the facility.
What are the disadvantages of anterior hip replacement?
We have covered many advantages for anterior hip replacement, however, there are a few disadvantages for patients with this technique. These restrictions consist of:
- Excess of soft and muscular tissues. Obese or very muscular individuals might be at disadvantage for this surgery, due to the fact that the extra soft cells can make it hard for the specialist to access the hip joint.
- Challenging surgery. The anterior technique restricts the surgeons’ view of the hip joint, making it a very challenging incision if the surgeon has not expertise in this technique.
- Risk of nerve injury. In an anterior hip replacement, there is a possible risk of nerve injury. The hip surgery area is located close to the lateral cutaneous femoral nerve, which provides the feeling sensation to the outer thigh. In some cases, there is the possibility to feel numbness in the thigh, and in a few cases (less than 1%), burning pain in the outer thigh called meralgia paresthetica that consists of compression of the lateral femoral nerve.
- Wound healing issues. Surgery incisions can cause irritation and get inflamed. In patients with large abdominal fat, this issue is more common due to the longer time of recovery.
In patients with an anterior hip replacement, cases of surgical wound complications (eg. Infection around the surgical incision) are generally mild and usually resolve over time even without medical treatment. However, these wound-healing concerns are generally light and self-limiting, meaning they normally resolve over time even without medical treatment.
An effective hip replacement depends upon many factors besides the surgical technique. Things to take into account are the skills of the surgeon, the kind of hip prosthesis made use of, the person’s weight, and the capacity, as well as the willingness of the patient to participate in medical prep work and post-surgical rehab, are vital aspects.
Who needs rehabilitation therapy?
Rehabilitation is for individuals who have actually lost abilities that they require for everyday life. Occupational therapy may be needed by individuals of every age, from newborns to seniors.
There are unlimited ways in which work therapy may assist these people, such as:
- A person who has lost the capability to hold things as a result of an injury may deal with a specialist to reclaim grip toughness and customize activities to ensure that they can be independent.
- A person who has had a traumatic brain injury and lost cognitive capabilities may call for a therapist to aid them with tasks such as applying to jobs or sending college applications.
- Kids with physical disabilities might require a therapist to help them establish the control required to feed themselves, make use of a computer system or improve their handwriting.
- Elderly with physical restrictions may need aid from a specialist to take part in tasks they enjoy in brand-new and modified methods.
- Those who have actually experienced an injury may need therapist intervention to help them avoid motions or behaviors that may intensify their injuries.
- Corporate professionals may need a therapist to develop an optimal work/life schedule designed to decrease tension and also make the best use of health and wellness or change their work environment based on ergonomic concepts.
Thinking of having an anterior hip replacement?
When thinking about having an anterior hip replacement, each case is different. The doctor plays an important role in advising whether or not the patient would require surgery, the recovery time and the cost of the surgery. For patients, it is important to know the surgeon’s experience performing the anterior hip replacement.
Eligibility for anterior hip replacement
Anterior hip replacement is readily available to any healthy person and balanced sufficient to undertake surgery, despite their body types. However, many professionals are of the thinking that non-obese patients or extremely muscular are the best candidates to have an anterior hip replacement.
Nevertheless, it depends on the individual to decide whether or not to have an anterior hip replacement.
Prospective expense cost savings of anterior hip replacement
Like many other surgeries, the cost of an anterior hip replacement can be expensive. However, one of the potential benefits of this type of hip replacement in comparison with traditional hip replacement is financial. A faster recovery can reduce the medical bill by thousands of dollars.
In addition, many patients are able to return to work sooner, which allows them to experience shorter lapses in their revenues.
Looking for a surgeon
Unfortunately, there isn’t a certification for orthopedic surgeons to carry out an anterior hip replacement. A patient would need to contact surgeons around the area to look for the ones with more experience performing this type of surgery.
These are a few of the questions when searching for a good surgeon:
- How frequently do you perform an anterior hip replacement?
- What are the success rates for this type of surgery? What about the complication rates?
- What are the expected outcomes in the short and long-term?
Patients should evaluate the benefits and also threats of anterior hip replacement, and the surgeon’s skills and success for this surgery should be considered.
Anterior hip replacement journey video
This is a video of two of Dr. Messieh's patients as they explain their anterior hip replacement surgery experience at Winter Haven Hospital
No content on this website should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from a doctor or other certified clinician.
