Hi Mamie,
You ask very good questions to help you weigh the risks and benefits of a total hip replacement: anterior approach, risk of infection and why do they happen, rehab and healing, etc. I'm tagging other members like @lynzze @marysapp @mrcapri @mrfish and @janelaine to join you in this discussion. @marysapp and @mrcapri mentioned elsewhere on Connect that their THR was done via anterior approach.

Mamie, I can understand that you get concerned when you read forums and hear about people's negative results with THR. It is possible that more discussions on forums in general are about poor results because people are searching for answers, and those who had good results don't need to find solutions. I hope we can generate a balanced conversation here with success stories as well as the reality that surgery always involves some risk. Talking with other members of Connect who have had and are considering a THR can also help you to make of list of good questions to ask your surgeon. Did you ask any of the surgeons that you consulted about infections and how or why they occur?