Anterior Hip Replacement Surgeon in Altoona, Hayward, Chippewa Falls, Stanley, WI
Medical conditions such as arthritis can damage or wear out the articular cartilage covering the hip joint surface and cause inflammation and severe pain in the hip.The condition can be treated by replacing the hip joint through surgery. Brent Carlson, M.D., Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon provides expert diagnosis and treatments for hip arthritis including anterior hip replacement surgery in Altoona, Hayward, Chippewa Falls, Stanley, WI. Brent Carlson, M.D., Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon also provides highly specialized care during and after the surgery. Contact Brent Carlson, M.D., Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon’s team for an appointment today!
What is Direct Anterior Approach Hip Replacement Surgery?
Direct anterior hip replacement is a minimally invasive hip surgery to replace the hip joint without cutting through any muscles or tendons as against traditional hip replacement that involves cutting major muscles to access the hip joint.
Anterior Hip Replacement Procedure
Anterior hip replacement surgery is performed under general anesthesia or regional anesthesia. You will lie down on your back, on a special operating table that enables your surgeon to perform the surgery from the front of the hip. Your surgeon may use fluoroscopic imaging during the surgery to ensure theaccuracy of component positioning and to minimize leg length inequality.
Your surgeon will make an incision, about 4 inches long on the front of the hip. The muscles are pushed aside to gain access to the joint and perform the replacement. Next, the femur is separated from the acetabular socket. The acetabular surface is prepared using a special instrument called a reamer. The acetabular component is cemented or fixed with screws into the socket. Then a liner made up of plastic, metal, or ceramic is placed inside the acetabular component.
The femoral head that is worn out is cut off and the femur is prepared using special instruments so that the new metal component fits the bone properly. Then, the new femoral component is inserted into the femur either by a press fit or by using special bone cement. The femoral head component made of ceramic or metal is then placed on the femoral stem.
Once the artificial components are fixed in place, the instruments are withdrawn and incisions are closed with sutures and covered with a sterile dressing.
Risks and Complications of Anterior Hip Replacement
All surgeries carry an element of risk, whether it is related to the anesthesia or the procedure itself. Risks and complications with anterior hip replacement are rare, but can occur and may include:
- Infection at the incision site or joint space
- Fracture
- Dislocation
- Nerve damage
- Hemarthrosis - excess bleeding into the joint after the surgery
- Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot)
- Leg length inequality
Post-operative Care for Anterior Hip Replacement
After traditional hip replacement surgery, you would be instructed to follow precautions to prevent your new hip from dislocating. These guidelines are very restrictive and include:
- No bending or flexing of the hip past 90 degrees.
- No crossing of legs.
- Use a pillow between the legs when sleeping.
- Use an elevated toilet seat.
Advantages of Anterior Hip Replacement
The advantages of anterior hip replacement include:
- High success rate
- Minimally invasive
- No muscle damage
- More precise placement of implants
- Allows excellent visibility of the joint
If you would like to have additional information on the treatment of hip arthritis or would like to learn more about anterior hip replacement surgery, please contact Brent Carlson, M.D., Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, serving the communities of Altoona, Hayward, Chippewa Falls, Stanley, WI.
