Anterior and Posterior Hip Replacement

Minimally Invasive, Anterior and Posterior Hip Replacement

Revolutionary options for hip replacement surgery through minimally invasive, anterior, and posterior approaches

What is a total hip replacement?

The hip joint is called a “ball and socket” joint because the top of the thigh bone is ball-shaped and fits into part of the pelvic bones. Normally, a person’s hip joint can move smoothly in many directions. However, problems with the hip joint can cause pain, stiffness, and limited movement. In hip replacement surgery, an orthopaedic surgeon replaces parts of your hip joint with artificial parts to ease pain and improve movement. Erlanger Orthopaedics offers revolutionary options for hip replacement surgery through minimally invasive, anterior, and posterior approaches.

How are these approaches different from traditional hip replacement?

Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement: These techniques may reduce the incision to 4 inches or less, compared to 6–12 inches for traditional hip replacement. The incision is typically along the anterior (front), lateral (side), or posterior (rear) of the hip.

Anterior Hip Replacement: In this approach, the surgeon makes the incision at the front of the hip and works between a natural separation in the muscles to access the hip joint. This is also called “muscle-sparring” surgery because no muscles are cut to access the hip joint.

Watch video of Dr. Higgins talking about Anterior Hip Replacement

Posterior Hip Replacement: In this most common approach for total hip replacement, the surgeon makes the hip incision at the back of the hip close to the buttocks.

What are the benefits?

• Less muscle damage. Minimal or no muscle cutting (anterior approach), for greater hip stability after surgery.

• Smaller incision. Decreases blood loss, surgical time, surgical trauma, and postoperative pain, while allowing quicker rehabilitation and a shorter hospital stay.

• Faster recovery. Allows bending at the hip and bearing weight as soon as it is comfortable after surgery. Most patients can use a walker or cane sooner than patients who have had a traditional hip surgery.

• Decreased risk of hip dislocation. Minimizes disturbance of the muscles and soft tissue structures that naturally prevent the hip from dislocating.

For more information, download our Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery brochure