Minimally-Invasive Total Hip Replacement Surgery
Last updated Friday, August 10, 2007
About the procedureTechnical details In both traditional and minimally-invasive hip replacement
surgery, the old, arthritic hip joint must be removed and replaced with new
ball and socket titanium implants.
In a traditional approach, the surgeon makes an 5 to 10-inch
incision in the side of a patient’s hip that requires the surgeon to cut
through or detach muscle. At the end of the surgery, the surgeon must repair
the divided muscle and tissues.
In a minimally-invasive surgery, the surgeon uses a two-inch
incision on the front of the hip and a two-inch incision on the back of the
hip. It is thought that this approach may cause less injury to the muscles
around the hip. As a result, the recuperation period is less painful and the
recovery more rapid than with the conventional approach. Through the small
incision on the front of the hip, the surgeon places a cup, about the size of
half a peach and is made of plastic. The cup is covered with a layer of
titanium with a web pattern that will allow the bone of the pelvis to grow into
it, keeping the cup in place. Through the other small incision on the back of
the hip the surgeon places a titanium ball and stem into the femur, or
thighbone. The bone grows into the stem over the six weeks following surgery,
holding it securely in place. The components are placed using x-ray guidance to
help insure accuracy. Once the ball and cup are in place, the surgeon puts the new ball into the new socket, and closes
the surgical incisions. Anesthetic Anesthesia for hip replacement surgery can either be general
or regional (spinal nerve block). The type of anesthetic is determined by an
anesthesiologist based on the patient’s needs.
Anesthesia is administered by an anesthesiologist
intravenously or through injection.
It is advisable that patients discuss the anesthesia with an
anesthesiologist before surgery to ensure their comfort and safety. Length of hip osteoarthritis Typical minimally-invasive hip replacement surgery takes one
to two hours depending on factors specific to the patient (size, weight, and
pattern of arthritis). This is about the same amount of time it takes to
perform traditional hip replacement surgery.Surgery for Minimally-Invasive Total Hip Replacement Surgery - degenerative joint disease at the University of Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-4288 (outside the Seattle area: 800-440-3280) to make an appointment.
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