Best approach for hip replacement

I am scheduled to meet with two different surgeons with two different approaches (anterior and posterior). From everything I have read the anterior can b a little more complicated to maneuver but they use robotics which increases the success. It appeals to me because they do not cut the glut therefore the healing and recovery time is quicker. Also, not supposed to have as much pain with the anterior approach.

Hi D. I ended up having the anterior approach. It’s 7 weeks today since surgery. Have been walking without a walker or cane since week 2. Just finished pt and am pain free. I highly recommend anterior approach. Make sure to ask the surgeon how many anterior approach he/ she has done. It does require more skill.

Best to you.

I'm glad you're doing well my friend!

I had my r hip replaced in March and the surgeon used the anterior incision. It is superior to posterior and lateral in that no muscles are cut to reach the joint. And you are correct it requires a fair amount of skill as the incision is only about 5" long. Always a good idea to check a surgeon's pedigree (med school and residency.fellowship) and time in practice. I find surgeons between their mid 30s to early 40s fit the bill.

Why such young Drs? Two reasons - 1) they are most likely to be caught up on the latest advancements in joint replacement medical science, and 2) they have their career ahead of them, they're ambitious and smart, and they pay greater attention than older docs (just my opinion on that).

My next adventure in joint replacement is my left shoulder, scheduled for an anatomical replacement in August. I wasn't going to do it during the summer, but this can't wait, it hurts too much. I'm actually looking forward to it. The early recovery is hard with the sling, sleeping, all that. But I expect in 2 months I'll be back on the spin bike, and then a slow process for regaining strength. This will test my admittedly limited patience. I lived through my TKRs and a hip and I'll live through this, challenging as it may be.

All the best!

Joe

You are correct D. As long as as you have a good surgeon, go with anterior if it is offered. I just did it and recovery is much faster than posterior.

I would also check the Drs pedigree - med school. residency/fellowship and suggest a surgeon in their mid 30s to early/mid 40s. They are current on latest techniques and have probably done hundreds if not thousands of procedures.

Best wishes!

Joe

There generally speaking is no pain with anterior unless the nerve is in involved, which unfortunately on my second procedure it was.

Sorry about that June. Even great surgeons can nick a nerve, and the only thing surprising to me is that it doesn't happen more often. I hope you are able to treat it, or that the nerve will somehow revive.

For both knee replacements, the skin on my kneecaps was numb for a good 8-12 months. It wasn't painful or bothersome. Eventually it faded away so I guess some nerves that were turned off by the surgery turned back on.

Again, I hope your situation resolves for the better.

Joe

Thank you. Since my doctor moved on after surgery, I had a follow up with another doctor at the clinic who does hips but posterior. I am on Gabapentin for a while until some of the symptoms resolve. He too thinks about a year. Thanks Best wishes

I would add: ask what the surgeon's infection rate is and how many of this surgery the have performed

Excellent questions. Considering a hip surgeon probably does approximately 300 to 400 surgeries a year (the number would be higher, but these surgeons also do knees, usually), looks at the time since they completed their fellowship.

The infection rate for joint replacements is approximately 1%. You can still ask the surgeon their number.

Finally, a really good surgeon should be happy to answer these questions.

Sounds good June, although I suggest finding a surgeon who does anterior incisions to help you. Again, this may settle down within a year. If it doesn't, you'd want the expertise of someone who has done the same procedure and is familiar with the nerves present around an anterior incision.

All the best to you.

Joe