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Best approach for hip replacement

Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Jul 6 6:18am | Replies (57)

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Profile picture for ehlersgal1 @ehlersgal1

Can you expand on what you mean by a minimally invasive approach? I've had both hips done. 2 dif. Dr's/times and one was robotic. I recoered faster from that.

However, I hear that the knee is horrible in comparison. Especially for a 5'5" woman that is in good shape but certainly not a man's strength! I've also had back surgery at 28 yrs old and have spent many hours researching everything.

Anyway, TMI What are you calling "minimally invasive"?

Thanks!

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Replies to "Can you expand on what you mean by a minimally invasive approach? I've had both hips..."

For hip replacement, I take "minimally invasive" to mean the anterior approach - a five inch incision made on the front side of the hip. No muscles are cut so recovery is quicker and less painful. The other procedures use posterior or lateral incisions, and these require that gluteus muscles be cut to reach the hip joint.

Anterior requires more skill by the surgeon. But hip replacement has a much shorter recovery period than knee and shoulder.

As for the knees, I had both done, 4 months apart, in 2022 when I was 67. I'm very fit and the recovery went well. I strengthened leg muscles pre-op and followed the rehab exercises diligently for 2 months post-op. The first two weeks are rough, but everyday the pain gets better.

Getting rid of that pain and swelling in my knees was life changing. My knees have never felt better.

Joe