Hip replacement surgery is the most common orthopedic surgery performed. It involves the replacement of the damaged hip bone (ball shaped upper end of the femur) with a metal ball attached to a metal stem that is fixed into the femur and attached to a metal shell in the pelvic region. Traditionally, the surgery was performed with a large, open incision and required the patient to stay in the hospital for several days. With advanced techniques, it is now possible to perform this surgery with significantly shorter hospital stays. Minimally invasive techniques such as the “mini-posterior” and the direct anterior approach involve smaller incisions and newer exposure techniques when compared to the traditional procedure. This type of surgery is less invasive to the tissues and bones and involves a much shorter hospitalization time, and in certain scenarios, the patient can go home the same day.
Total hip replacement surgery is used to treat hip joint arthritis. This chronic condition is due to degeneration of the cartilage surfaces of the hip which may be damaged from trauma, autoimmune diseases and bone death just to name a few.
The minimally invasive hip replacement technique allows surgeons to replace the damaged hip bones through a small incision. The incision measures around 3 to 6 inches compared to 10 to 12 inches for traditional surgery. The muscles and soft tissues are separated to expose the hip socket and femoral head, like traditional surgery, but to a lesser extent. The head of the damaged femur is removed and the hip socket is cleaned of all damaged tissue. The stem and ball portion of the implant are then fitted into the end of the femur. The hip is then rejoined and the surrounding tissues are brought back to the normal position. As the incision is very small, fewer muscles and tendons are traumatized.
The benefits of minimally invasive hip surgery are:
Like all major surgical procedures, there may be certain risks and complications involved with hip replacement surgery. The possible complications after a hip replacement include:
