Direct Anterior Approach Total Hip Replacement Surgery
Dr. Eric Buxbaum performs direct anterior hip replacement at AOSMI. The direct anterior approach to hip replacement offers many potential benefits to patients with hip arthritis who are interested in returning to an active lifestyle quickly after their procedure.
Direct anterior hip replacement is a minimally invasive and muscle sparing surgical technique. Working through a 3 to 4 inch incision on the front of the hip (anterior), the surgeon can gently move muscles aside to replace the damaged hip joint, without cutting into gluteal muscles. This approach often results in quicker recovery, less pain, and more normal function after hip replacement. Because the tendons aren’t detached from the hip during direct anterior hip replacement, hip precautions are typically not necessary. This means that patients have no problem bending forward after surgery and do not have to restrict their activities as they would with a typical posterior approach to hip replacement. Patients can usually return to normal daily activities shortly after surgery with a reduced risk of dislocation.
Not all patients will qualify for this approach, please make an appointment for an evaluation to discuss your treatment options.
Unlike the direct anterior approach, traditional hip replacement surgery involves making an incision on the side of the hip (lateral approach) or the back of the hip (posterior approach). Both techniques require detaching muscles and tendons from the hip in order to replace the joint. Hip precautions after surgery (no bending greater than 90 degrees, no crossing legs, no excessive rotation) are generally required for this reason.
