| The anterior approach is a revolutionary | | | | Patients and doctors alike are encouraging this |
| improvement in hip replacement surgery, | | | | method because it reduces pain, blood loss, |
| according to leading orthopedic surgeons in the | | | | scarring, muscle trauma and the risk of dislocation. |
| United States. It makes patients heal much faster, | | | | Reason Three:Less Restrictive. After conventional |
| but it is still not offered as an option in most U.S. | | | | hip replacement surgery, patients must limit |
| hospitals. | | | | flexing of the hip to no more than 60 to 90 |
| Reason One: Faster Recovery. While it may take | | | | degrees, which complicates normal activities like |
| patients four to six months to fully recover | | | | sitting in a chair, on a toilet seat, putting on shoes |
| following conventional hip replacement surgery, | | | | or getting into a car. Simply climbing stairs may |
| the anterior approach enables patients to recover | | | | also be more difficult during recovery when |
| in only four weeks. An orthopedic surgeon and | | | | following the conventional replacement surgery. |
| founder of the Hip and Pelvis Institute at St. | | | | The anterior approach to hip replacement surgery |
| John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, | | | | allows the surgeon to reach the hip joint from the |
| was the first to bring this method from Europe | | | | front of the hip as opposed to the lateral (side) or |
| and develop it in the United States. | | | | the posterior (back) approach. This way, the hip |
| Despite its positive outcome for patients, the | | | | can be replaced without detachment of muscle |
| anterior approach to hip replacement surgery is | | | | from the pelvis or femur during surgery as is |
| not offered in most hospitals. Popular in Europe, | | | | performed in traditional surgery. The surgeon can |
| it's been used in Paris, France some 25 years ago. | | | | simply work through the natural interval between |
| Since learning from the small group of European | | | | the muscles. The most important muscles for hip |
| surgeons who practiced this method, a US doctor | | | | function, the gluteal muscles that attach to the |
| has been instrumental in bringing awareness of | | | | pelvis and femur, are left undisturbed and, |
| the anterior approach as a hip replacement | | | | therefore, do not require a healing process to |
| surgery method to the United States and | | | | recover from surgical trauma. |
| worldwide. He has performed over 1600 anterior | | | | The technique is advanced even further by |
| approach hip replacement surgeries and continues | | | | designing a special, state-of-the-art surgical table |
| to give instructional seminars for surgeons around | | | | to replace the original French orthopedic Judet |
| the United States to introduce them to this | | | | table. The table has unique capabilities to facilitate |
| method. The popularity of the anterior approach | | | | this smaller and less invasive approach. The table |
| as a total hip replacement procedure has been | | | | has carbon fiber spars that support the legs that |
| growing rapidly. Over 400 surgeons will receive | | | | move appropriately to manipulate the operated |
| training this year alone. | | | | leg during surgery. Additionally, the table has a |
| Reason Two: Minimally Invasive. The anterior | | | | sterile motorized robotic attachment that reaches |
| approach to hip replacement is the most minimally | | | | inside the wound and lifts the femur to an |
| invasive choice for people suffering from arthritis, | | | | accessible position. Numerous other surgical |
| hip pain, stiffness and limited hip movement. | | | | innovations and protocols for replacement reach |
| Following the anterior approach surgical procedure, | | | | beyond the original French technique. |
| patients are instructed to use their hip normally | | | | As people increasingly learn more about the |
| without cumbersome restrictions and are sent | | | | anterior approach to hip replacement, they will |
| home from the hospital often in less than three | | | | likely turn to this method. Total replacement |
| days. Patients can immediately bend their hip | | | | offers benefits that the traditional route to hip |
| freely and bear full weight when comfortable, | | | | replacement just cannot offer. |
| resulting in a rapid return to normal function. | | | | |