Hip replacement or arthroplasty is a surgery that replaces parts of the hip joint with artificial ones to relieve hip pain and make the joint work again. In this method, the ball at the top of the femur (also called the thigh-bone) and the socket in the pelvis (also called the hip bone) are replaced with mechanical parts.
The goal of hip replacement surgery is to help people get back to their everyday lives and exercise with less pain and difficulty.
People with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, AVN, or other degenerative diseases that cause hip pain and mobility problems are often told to get the treatment.
Talking to a joint replacement surgeon is important if you have ongoing hip pain and are thinking about getting hip replacement surgery to make sure it is the right choice for you.
What does anterior hip replacement mean?
Hip pain is not only painful, but it also makes it hard to move around, which affects your quality of life.
At first, your doctor will look into ways to treat your hip pain that don’t involve surgery. If these don’t help with your pain, though, your doctor will suggest you to opt hip replacement surgery.
With anterior hip replacement surgery, an artificial hip joint is put in place of your real one during surgery.
The difference between this type of hip replacement and the more common posterior type is where the cut is made. When you have an anterior hip replacement, the cut is made near the front of your thigh instead of the side.
It’s important to know that “anterior” mostly refers to how the surgeon gets to your hip joint in connection to your abductor muscles, which are necessary for your hip to work properly and not hurt. Neither type of surgery cuts these muscles, which makes the healing process faster and less painful.
Why would you need a hip replacement that goes up front?
You might need hip replacement surgery for several reasons, such as an accident, an injury, or just getting older and wear and tear.
A “ball and socket” joint makes up the hip. We can expect normal wear and tear as we age. In some cases, though, the joint can get hurt and be very painful.
Surgery to replace the hip can help return mobility and ease pain. Here are some common reasons why people get hip replacements:
- Hip and knee pain
- RA (rheumatoid arthritis)
- Bone death from not enough blood flow
- Bone tumors
Anterior vs. Posterior Hip Replacement Surgeries
“Anterior” and “posterior” are words that are often used to talk about hip replacement treatments. These words say a lot about the different ways of doing surgery. The words are very easy to understand. “Anterior” means “front” and “posterior” means “back.”
They both mean “where the cut is.” Before you start, you start at the front of your hip. After that, you start at the back of your hip, close to your bottom.
Both methods have worked well for many years and have led to the same long-term results. Which method to use is decided by the surgeon’s education, experience, and attitude, as well as the risk profile of each patient.
What are the Advantages Anterior Hip Replacement?
Additionally, there are a number of benefits associated with selecting the anterior approach, including the following, despite the fact that your surgeon will advise you on the approach that is most suitable for your specific conditions:
- Faster Recovery
- Pain relief following surgical procedures
- Less stress imposed on the muscles
- Shorter stays in hospitals
- Reduced likelihood of hip dislocation injuries
Many studies show that no matter which method is used, a well-done Anterior Hip Replacement has the same functionality and pain relief 6 months after surgery.
Many over-the-top benefits of the anterior method are listed on medical gadgets and practice websites, but they are just that: over-the-top. The only real benefit is better walking for the first two months after surgery.
For the surgeon, another advantages of anterior hip replacement surgery are that the patient stays flat (on their back) during the surgery.
This lets the surgeon get good x-rays during the process, which helps them make sure the hip parts are in the right place. In a way, this lets the surgeon “double-check” their work. During a posterior method, which depends more on anatomical features, it is harder to get these same X-rays.
Deciding to Have an Anterior Hip Replacement
Before the operation, it is essential to be in the best possible health. This is one of the most crucial things to do. Your fitness, both in terms of the muscles that are located around the hip, the pelvis, and the core, as well as your overall fitness, will be beneficial to you.
It is possible for the pain treatment to ensure that you are never in an excessive amount of pain that you are experiencing if you have a nice, nutritious diet that you truly remain on top of.
Following the surgical procedure, you will be able to perform additional tasks and operate more efficiently, which will not only aid in the recuperation process but also aid in the prevention of issues.
Final take away on hip replacement surgery
The anterior hip replacement surgery is a good choice for qualified patients who want to heal more quickly and with less pain. Like any other medical treatment, you need to talk to a skilled orthopedic surgeon to figure out the best way to do things based on your specific health needs and situation.
As orthopedics develops, anterior hip replacement shows how the field is dedicated to making patients’ lives better and increasing their quality of life through Hip Replacement Surgery.
