Anterior Hip Replacement

There are various approaches to performing a hip replacement surgery. These include:

• The Posterior approach or the back of the hip
• The Lateral or anterolateral approach or the side of the hip
• The Anterior Approach or the front of the leg
• Combination of all three.

The fact that there are multiple ways of performing this procedure is indicative of the fact that each has its own merits & demerits. The choice of surgical approach depends on a variety of factors including a patient’s body type, severity of damage, complexity of procedure & patient’s medical history.

At Elite Orthopedics, we have expert orthopedic surgeons are skilled & experienced in performing both posterior & anterior hip replacement surgeries. Dr Nitish Bhan, Senior Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Elite Orthopedics is an expert in the anterior approach to hip replacement. He is one of the very few surgeons in India who is specialised in anterior hip replacements.

The direct anterior approach is a minimally invasive procedure to replace the damaged parts of the hip joint with the metal & plastic implants. The anterior approach is considered to be muscle sparing as it doesn’t involve cutting into the muscles & tendons to reach the damaged bone & tendon. In this procedure, the muscles & ligaments are gently pushed aside & the implants are set in the right position.

Anterior hip replacement involves great skill & is only performed by expert orthopedic surgeons. Consul Dr Nitish Bhan at Elite Orthopedics to understand why this is the best option for you.

Some of the advantages of Anterior Hip Replacement surgery are:

• Lesser pain
• Quicker recovery
• No loss of blood
• Short Hospital Stay
• Better long term outcomes

Anterior hip replacement surgery is a safe & effective surgical procedure to treat hip arthritis. But as with any other surgery, this procedure also involves certain risks.

Hip dislocation is the most common risk involved in hip surgery. However, in an anterior approach the muscles & soft tissues are preserved, this makes it much likely for the patient to have a dislocation.

One risk that is unique to the anterior hip replacement is the numbness of the skin in the front part of the thigh. However, it vanishes overtime.

• People with implants or metal hardware prior to surgery
• Obese individuals with BMI over 40
• Individual with a wide pelvis.

Most patients who have had an anterior hip replacement are able to walk with cane support on the day of the surgery itself. Cane support may be necessary for a few weeks. Within three months the patient would be able to return to active sport.