Anterior Total Hip Replacement (Arthroplasty)

The Anterior Approach surgery procedure for hip replacement is a technique that minimizes the pain and time from surgery to recovery. The Anterior Approach allows the surgeon to reach the hip joint from the front of the hip as opposed to the lateral (side) or the posterior (back) approach. In this way, the surgeon can simply work through the natural opening and separations between the muscles. The most important muscles for hip function, the gluteal muscles that attach to the pelvis and femur, are left undisturbed and therefore these do not require a healing process.

Hana® Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Surgery Table

SGSC employs a Hana® Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Surgery Table – the only surgical table designed exclusively for hip and knee arthroplasty.    With its unique capability to position the leg, the Hana® table enables the surgeon to replace the hip through a single incision, without detachment of muscle from the pelvis or femur. The table allows for safe hyperextension, adduction, and external rotation of the leg for femoral component placement – a positioning option not possible with conventional tables. The Hana® table incorporates a patented femoral lift and support system enhancing femoral exposure for improved component placement. The lack of disturbance to the lateral and posterior soft tissues provides immediate stability of the hip after surgery.  This table is the result of an $80,000 investment in this state of the art technology. Many hospitals and day surgery centers don’t have this equipment available. Anterior approach hip replacement can be done without the table but the surgery usually takes about 30 – 45 minutes longer on average and requires more time under anesthesia for the patient, and longer time in the operating theater which is usually reflect to the patient or the patients’ insurers in higher pricing.

This approach is not only unique but, for appropriate candidates, provides a more natural, safe, and better surgical experience for the patient, including:

• Out-patient Surgical procedure in many cases—no long hospital stay
• Faster recovery time, many people will resume daily activities within two weeks.  With an anterior hip, many patients can walk with their full weight on their new hip on the same day of their surgery, and most return home the next day. Such a swift recovery means that you get to return to your daily life more quickly.
• Lower chance of dislocation.  With the traditional posterior approach method of replacement, patients have had to worry about their hip coming out of the socket during certain bending movements; the anterior approach is more stable.
• No restrictions after replacement. The traditional hip replacement also included a number of restrictions for patients’ movement, in order to prevent the hip from dislocating. After recovering from an anterior hip replacement, patients do not have such restrictions.
• Smaller incisions that include less pain and scarring