Posterior Approach for Total Hip Replacement

Are they doing a traditional posterior cut or one of the newer supercap cuts (Superpath or STAR)? If the former, have you had a surgeon who does one of the newer methods take a look?

Four years ago I had my left hip replaced via Superpath and I had zero post surgery pain. Seven months ago the same surgeon replaced my right knee with a bicruciate retaining implant (BCR) and, again, I had no post surgery pain.

Choosing a more minimally invasive method is great but finding that great surgeon is more important. I wanted and received my hip via superpath. But if my surgeon of choice wanted to do a traditional cut, I would have still chosen him. Extensive successful experience is my first and most important selection criteria.

@steveinarizona Thanks so much for your response and the good points you made. Originally - several years ago when I'd become aware that I'd likely need a THR - I'd consulted with a orthopedic practice that was known as being innovative in the Superpath technique; I met with the PA who before I knew it had me booked for pre-op, surgery and post-op. But as you said, finding a surgeon is most important. As my situation changed with various factors, I wound up having a consult with the team at Mayo who evaluated the position of the screws I have in my upper femur and determined the best approach to remove and fill them in along wih the replacement would be the traditional posterior approach to ideally avoid a fracture. As all my other specialists (onc, GI, infectious disease, rheumatology and sports med) are on staff at Mayo, that was a definite consideration as well.

I contacted a home health agency yesterday and at this point I'm inclined to engage them for the first couple of post-op days at home.

I appreciate your feedback. Still curious how others who may have had a posterior approach have fared post operatively.

@grammato3 Quite a few years ago, I had posterior total hip replacements 6 weeks apart, then 4 years later 3 revision surgeries within 3 months.

We prepared with a raised toilet seat (just steps from out bedroom), a shower chair, a non-rolling waiting-room-type chair with a memory foam cushion, a passive ice machine (much better than ice packs), a reacher/grabber, a sock putter-oner, and lots of pillows for positioning. We put a small desk for my computer in the guest room, where I slept for the first week or so. (I was working part-time from home after a very few days.)

My husband is a very comfortable and patient caregiver, so it was fine for us to be on our own, with my two RN daughters nearby if needed (we didn't.) I had good mobility from day one with crutches (arthritic hands & back cannot do a walker) and was able to slowly do the seven stairs in and out of the house right away.

If your husband is nervous about being your caregiver, having someone for a few days or a week to "show him the ropes" would be good.

Make sure you are CRYSTAL CLEAR to the agency & the aide exactly what you expect, and don't hesitate to reject someone who is not providing what you need. We had to do that when we were getting assistance caring for our Moms.

Have you been thinking about how to prepare your home for your recovery?

@sueinmn: This is very helpful, thank you! I do have a combined toilet/shower seat on my amazon wish list and just added a 7 piece THR collection based on your recommendation (grabber, sock aid, leg lifter, etc). I'd stayed in our guest room - which has a much lower bed and is closer to the en suite bathroom there - for quite some time during my convelescence for my colitis when my husband learned to be very good at providing my PICC line meds and care -- but prior to that my C-diff experience was very draining to him between caring for our two dogs, maintaining the home and his community commitments. So that all factors into his post-op concerns for me, a former RN myself who admittedly has high standards (for better or worse!). I do have a walker from when I had the enteropathic arthritis and fortunately no stairs in the house. I'm familiar with the home health agency I contacted as we used their services for years for my dad. I'm trying to be proactive in planning ahead but any other suggestions are welome and much appreciated! (sorry to hear about the need for revision interventions, was that due to failed hardware?)

@grammato3 Quite a few years ago, I had posterior total hip replacements 6 weeks apart, then 4 years later 3 revision surgeries within 3 months.

We prepared with a raised toilet seat (just steps from out bedroom), a shower chair, a non-rolling waiting-room-type chair with a memory foam cushion, a passive ice machine (much better than ice packs), a reacher/grabber, a sock putter-oner, and lots of pillows for positioning. We put a small desk for my computer in the guest room, where I slept for the first week or so. (I was working part-time from home after a very few days.)

My husband is a very comfortable and patient caregiver, so it was fine for us to be on our own, with my two RN daughters nearby if needed (we didn't.) I had good mobility from day one with crutches (arthritic hands & back cannot do a walker) and was able to slowly do the seven stairs in and out of the house right away.

If your husband is nervous about being your caregiver, having someone for a few days or a week to "show him the ropes" would be good.

Make sure you are CRYSTAL CLEAR to the agency & the aide exactly what you expect, and don't hesitate to reject someone who is not providing what you need. We had to do that when we were getting assistance caring for our Moms.

Have you been thinking about how to prepare your home for your recovery?