Hip replacement surgical approaches

Thank you for your response. What experience did you have with your replacement? Any back issues? What approach did you have?

Regarding the Anterior approach vs the Posterior approach - there are fans of each.
My own trusted orthopedic surgeon, who does about 250 hip replacement and/or revisions per year, favors the Posterior approach. His reasons are solid - especially that the field of view of the femur is superior, so exact placement of the stem is improved, and the selection of prosthetics that can be used is far more diverse than in the Anterior approach. He feels most poor results are from imperfect placement of the implant. He is particularly insistent that women get better results from the posterior approach because with their smaller bones the consequence of any minor bad angle is magnified.
Now, when I hear about (and look at) the contorted position required on the Hana table, I also see how it can magnify preexisting problems. But I also know it helps surgeons deal with complex leg fractures and other orthopedic issues.
After doing some research, it does not appear there are any lawsuits regarding the Hana table.

What is the takeaway? Like everything else, in medicine and in life, this is not a "black and white" situation. Remember that those of us who come to Mayo Connect looking for answers, like @mitfit @nancymulloy and @daisy22, are here because they had a problem. The hundreds, or maybe even thousands, who had successful surgeries and recoveries are not here talking about it.

And @shoppingdiane the experiences of these three people may have saved you from a problem because you asked in advance!
Sue
PS I will again add my 2 cents worth (after 2 hip replacements and 3 revisions over nearly 20 years) that doing both hips at once is tricky business - especially if you already have back pain. Why did you want to do both at once?

I copy most of my medical record through MyChart, even my tests done at the hospital. Then I know what's going on and what's the truth. I also copied from Mayo because I can connect the two clinics and notes are passed to my doctor so I'm not looking for them at the worst time.

It took me over a year to feel somewhat better after the hip replacement. I had blood clots in my lungs one month after surgery and that was really traumatic for me. I have developed anxiety, chronic fatigue, internal vibrations and 20 pound weight loss since the surgery. I am working really hard at getting better. I know I will never be what I used to be before the surgery. I was just fine before the surgery! I have had back pain and have gone to PT for it. I do back exercises every day at home. It is some better but I am very careful.

i'm in Goldsboro NC. Close to Raleigh. Where do i find a doctor familiar with these shots for inflamed nerves?

The name of the article is "Mayo Clinic study finds nerve damage after hip surgery may be due to inflammation" by Bryan Anderson May 4, 2014. You could try typing in the article or try this www. mayoclinicproceedings.org where an article links some nerve damage after hip surgery to inflammatory damage after hip surgery attributed to positioning or direct surgical injuries. Try news network. mayo clinic.org as well. Good luck.

Thank you for your kind response! I will check into that.

Thank you

I had Superpath for my left total hip replacement. It was terrific and I had no pain. BUT, there are still very few surgeons who are trained in and doing Superpath. Fortunately for me, the one who invented it (Jimmy Chow) is here in Phoenix.

Any hip replacement is complex although the results are consistently good (unfortunately, in life there are always some outliers). While I would want to do Superpath again, I think it is more important that your surgeon has done lots of whatever approach she uses. I would stay away from a surgeon who says she can do either approach. In my opinion, you want someone with strong muscle memory over the operation.

If you have surgeons who qualify, I would prefer the Superpath approach, then the anterior approach and, finally, the posterior approach. Let me give you an example of the difference: I had my surgery at an outpatient surgical facility attached to a hospital. Before the surgery Dr Chow came in with a document (approximately 10 pages long) with instructions from the hospital on what to do post surgery (don't cross your legs, don't bend over, etc. etc.). My surgeon tossed it in the wastepaper basket and said to just follow his instructions on a two sided document. Essentially his instructions were be a couch potato for the first five weeks or so (he can't make bones grow around the implant) and take the medication. I could cross my legs, bend over, etc. After the surgery I had some very minor pain around the surgical site but no other pain. After the fourth day I asked if I could stop all pain medications and was told yes and I did. I know I was fortunate.

My advice is that it is even more important that your surgeon be practiced and accomplished at whichever approach she uses. I don't want a surgeon learning on me.

The reason for bith is because I'm scared of anesthesia, etc...I feel like I can only do this once...also, the Ortho was enthusiastic about bilateral hip replacement and easier recovery...I don't know what to do...I dud see another Orhto who recommended anterior bilateral...but also Saud he isn't a back man..he didn't see an issue with the Hana table extension and any worsening problems to my back...the thing that's throwing me off is my Orrho recommended bilateral anterior, but then pivoted to posterior...my surgery was cancelled x 2..it was scheduled as bilateral anterior approach, but then with new preop visit..he said posterior, but that he'd do whatever I wanted..1 or both hips done anterior or posterior..even posterior as both...he knew about my bulging discs 1st preop...I only asked if the procedure would be more difficult for him to do on the left side with the increased pain from bulging disc hitting nerve on that side...then he pivoted to the posterior...all of it scares me..