According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons total hip replacement is one of the most commonly performed elective surgeries in the US. Women aged 66-65 are the majority of total hip replacement patients. Over 300,000 Americans receive a total hip replacement each year, most due to osteoarthritis.

Total Hip replacement surgery is one of the most successful, safest and cost-effective surgeries in all of medicine. Total hip replacement is for people suffering from hip pain and poor function caused by hips damaged by osteoarthritis, late-stage degenerative bone and cartilage disease, and injuries.

Thanks to significant advances in the creation of artificial joints that mimic our natural joints, and advanced hip replacement surgery called Anterior Hip Replacement, patients need not suffer with pain and stiffness that impairs their quality of life and limits their independence.

The goal of total hip replacement surgery is to treat pain and damage in the hip joint.

Total hip replacement can be approached from the front, side and rear. In anterior hip replacement the surgery is done through the front of the hip.

What is an anterior total hip replacement?

The direct anterior approach offers superior functional outcomes, higher quality daily activity and improved quality of life than other approaches, and results are comparable to people who have never had hip replacement surgery!

Minimally invasive anterior total hip replacement offers significant advantages over older approaches, which make it the preferred choice.

Anterior total hip replacement advantages:

• Muscle sparing. Other approaches require the surgeon to make a long incision and cut through major muscle groups to reach the joint. More cutting creates more bleeding and the likelihood of blood transfusions, and the trauma makes recovery slower and more painful because the tissues takes longer to heal.
• Shorter hospital stays of one to two days which is half the length of the stay required with other approaches.
• Fewer complications than with standard hip replacement.
• Shorter need for a cane or walker, and quicker return to normal gait.
• Easier rehabilitation. Because there is less trauma to the soft tissues rehab is less painful.
• Smaller incisions and scarring. During surgery the surgeon makes two short incisions in the front of the hip so there is less scarring.
• Faster recovery. Patients can return to the life they love more quickly.
• Recent studies report that six months after surgery 94% of patients were free of pain.
• Superior function that allows for bending over, crossing legs and reaching down to the floor.

Anterior hip is advanced joint replacement surgery for people with degenerative hip joint diseases. Today patients need not live with the pain and stiffness of deteriorating joints.

Surgery is never the first choice. But, when you have exhausted all nonsurgical options and your pain and disability significantly impair your quality of life and independence, it may be time to consider hip joint replacement surgery.

Who is a good candidate?

People who are generally healthy and:

• have significant pain when standing, walking or exercising
• have difficulty performing normal daily activities that interfere with their lives like walking short distances, trouble putting on and taking of clothing, shoes and socks
• have abandoned exercise and recreational activities that bring them joy and interfere with their ability to travel and enjoy life.

When you are thinking about hip replacement surgery, contact the Grossmont Orthopedic Medical Group. We are specially trained and experienced in anterior hip replacement surgery. The board certified, and fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons at the Grossmont Orthopedic Medical Group are committed your CARE: Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellent are our touchstones. Contact us at our La Mesa office to get the correct diagnosis and treatment so you can return to the life you love.