For suitable patients, direct anterior hip replacement offers a less invasive alternative to other approaches. At Premier Orthopedic Specialists of Tulsa, Scott Plaster, MD, offers minimally invasive anterior hip replacement that restores function to the joint and relieves chronic hip pain. Call the office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to find out more about direct anterior hip replacement or book an appointment online today.
Anterior hip replacement is a technique Dr. Scott Plaster uses to perform joint replacement surgery. The anterior approach involves accessing the hip through an incision in the front of your leg.
Anterior hip replacement offers an alternative to traditional posterior hip replacement surgery, where the incision is in your buttock, and the lateral approach, where the incision is in the side of your hip.
Anterior hip replacement is sometimes called muscle-sparing hip replacement or the mini-anterior approach. This is because muscles are not cut through which typically reduces the pain patients experience after surgery.
Dr. Scott Plaster uses advanced techniques and cutting-edge technologies when performing anterior hip replacement. These include a specialized operating table and specialized retractors that enable him to make smaller incisions, minimizing tissue damage.
Dr. Scott Plaster also uses fluoroscopy (a kind of moving X-ray image) to see the inside of your hip.
Anterior hip replacement offers several advantages. It causes less tissue damage than making a cut in your buttock muscles because Dr. Scott Plaster can move the muscles at the front of your body out of the way instead of cutting through them.
Because anterior hip replacement results in significantly less trauma, you often experience a reduced level of post-surgical pain. Your tissues heal more quickly, and you may make a faster recovery, so you’re likely to be walking without assistive devices more quickly than traditional approaches.
The muscles around the joint also provide better support for your new hip, which reduces your risk of dislocation.
Dr. Scott Plaster believes the anterior approach is an excellent choice for the majority of patients. However, there are some patients for whom it may not be suitable. Anterior hip replacement might not be possible if you:
These risk factors mean that anterior hip replacement is more likely to cause post-surgical complications such as fractures and nerve damage. Dr. Plaster talks to you about which is the best approach for your hip replacement.
To find out more about having direct anterior hip replacement surgery, contact Premier Orthopedic Specialists of Tulsa. Call the office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Scott Plaster or book an appointment online today.
