Hip arthritis pain can be disabling. In some cases, the best way to deal with the pain you are having from hip arthritis is a hip replacement. Although this may sound like a major undertaking, you will be pleased to know the field of hip replacement has dramatically improved in recent years. One of the most major advancements in hip replacement is the Anterior Approach.
Anterior Hip Replacement has helped patients of all ages recover faster and return to active lifestyles. The word “Anterior” means from the front. Unlike conventional hip replacements that require cutting muscles, Anterior Hip Replacement is an intermuscular approach. This means the hip is accessed through a natural gap between the muscles.
The preservation of muscles allows for:
If you and Dr. Grimes decide to proceed with Anterior Hip Replacement, it is important to prepare ahead of time. You should practice walking with aids such as a walker, crutches or a cane. Dr. Grimes will explain which aid is needed and when. He will also describe the isometric exercises you will need to do to help tone up the muscles around your new hip.
The surgery will be performed at a hospital. During your procedure x-ray images are taken of your hip to allow Dr. Grimes to determine the best size implant for your hip. You will start physical therapy the same day as surgery or the next morning.
The amount of time you are in the hospital varies according to your age, health, and walking ability. More patients are going home the first day after Anterior Hip Replacement, and selected patients may be able to go home the same day as the surgery. Some patients recover somewhat more slowly and may stay in the hospital 2 or 3 days after hip replacement.
You will need to arrange for someone to take you home from the hospital and to stay with you to help with meal preparation and other household tasks for a few days after being discharged from the hospital. In the first few weeks after your procedure, you will take short walks around the house and do isometric strengthening exercises. You will not need physical therapy after you leave the hospital.
To learn more, call us for an appointment at (661) 324-2491 in Bakersfield.
© James B. Grimes, MD Orthopaedic Surgeon Minimally Invasive Hip Knee Shoulder Surgery Bakersfield California
