Minimally-Invasive Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Last updated Friday, August 10, 2007

Summary

Overview

• The key to minimally-invasive hip surgery is protecting the muscle and other tissues around the joint.
• In minimally-invasive total hip replacement surgery, a surgeon makes two small incisions – one in front of the hip and one in the back.
• With traditional hip replacement surgery a 5 to 10-inch incision in the side of the hip is needed, whereas with the minimally-invasive approach, incisions are about 1.5 inches and two inches in length, though this can vary with the size of the patient.
• Using x-ray guidance, the surgeon pushes aside the hip muscle, rather than cutting it to remove the arthritic hip and replace the hip’s “ball” and “socket” with titanium implants.
• A patient spends one to two days in the hospital, versus three or four days with traditional surgery.
• Total recovery time is about four weeks, rather than eight weeks with the traditional approach.

Surgery for Minimally-Invasive Total Hip Replacement Surgery - degenerative joint disease at the University of Washington

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