Anterior Approach Surgery

Potential For Less pain. Faster recovery. Improved mobility.^1-3

The Anterior Approach for total hip replacement is a tissue-sparing alternative to traditional hip replacement surgery that provides the potential for less pain, faster recovery and improved mobility because the muscle tissues are spared during the surgical procedure. The technique allows the surgeon to work between your muscles and tissues without detaching them from either the hip or thighbones - sparing the tissue from trauma.

Keeping the muscles intact may also help to prevent dislocations. With the Anterior Approach, the surgeon uses one small incision on the front (anterior) of your hip as opposed to the side or back. Since the incision is in front, you’ll avoid the pain of sitting on the incision site.

Watch the videos below to learn about patients' real-life experiences with the Anterior Approach surgery, and how it impacted their lives. Find out what led them to surgery, hear about their recovery, and learn how they got back to doing the things they love.

Now that you've heard from real-life patients about their experiences with the Anterior Approach, read more below about the benefits and risks of this procedure and how it differs from other techniques.

Anterior Approach Incision

The Anterior Approach procedure for total hip replacement has been gaining popularity recently due to its potential benefits:

• Possible accelerated recovery time because key muscles are not detached during the operation. (Some other procedures require cutting or disturbing the important muscles at the side or back of the leg.) The Anterior Approach is known as a tissue-sparing procedure because it avoids cutting these key muscles and tissues and therefore minimizes muscle damage
• Potential for fewer restrictions during recovery. Although each patient responds differently, this procedure seeks to help patients more freely bend their hip and bear their full weight immediately or soon after surgery
• Possible reduced scarring because the technique allows for one relatively small incision
• Potential for stability of the implant sooner after the surgery, resulting in part from the fact that the key muscles and tissues are not disturbed during the operation. 

The Anterior Approach differs in multiple ways from other surgery techniques:

• The hip is exposed in a way that does not detach muscles or tendons from the bone
• A high-tech operating table is often used to help improve access
• Side-by-side TV screens can be used to provide x-ray views to help with implant positioning
• Larger, heavier patients—may be candidates for minimally invasive hip surgery with this technique
• The Anterior Approach enters the body closer to the hip joint, with far less tissue between the skin and the bones of the hip, so more patients may be candidates

Every surgical approach has risks and benefits. The performance of a hip replacement depends on your age, weight, activity level and other factors. There are potential risks, and recovery takes time. People with conditions limiting rehabilitation should not have this surgery. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can tell if hip replacement is right for you.  

Learn more by reading these stories from patients who underwent hip replacement surgery using the Anterior Approach.

• Michele is a realtor who refused to let hip pain slow her down. Read Michele's story.
• Hip replacement helps Karen regain movement and flexibility. Read Karen's story.
• Hip replacement allows travel enthusiast to get back on the road. Read Roger's story.
• "I'm not too young for hip replacement!" Read Malene's story.
• Hip surgery leads UCLA professor to a greater appreciation of movement. Read Ann's story.
• Hip replacement helps Diana return to her true love: travel. Read Diana's story.

Your doctor will tell you what restrictions you will have after surgery, and every surgeon has his or her own set of precautions for you to follow.

Next: Minimally Invasive Surgery

References:
1. Comparison THA procedure data on file at DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
2. Matta, J.M. and T.A. Ferguson. “THA After Acetabular Fracture.” Orthopedics September 2005, 28(9): 959-960.
3. Matta, J.M., C. Shahrdar and T.A. Ferguson. “Single-Incision Anterior Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty on an Orthopaedic Table.” Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research December 2005. 441: 115-124.