Hip arthroplasty, also known as hip replacement, is a common surgical procedure to replace damaged bone ends within the hip joints with metal and plastic prosthetic devices. New advances allow for the use of minimally invasive techniques to perform this procedure, offering patients significant advantages over the traditional surgery.
Minimally invasive hip replacement is done through one or two small incisions into which the implants are placed with special surgical instruments. The muscles and tendons are only slightly detached and then repaired once the implants are placed to encourage quick healing. This procedure is often performed under X-ray guidance to ensure precise placement of the implant.
request an appointmentWith minimally invasive total hip replacement, patients can benefit from:
- Less pain
- Less bleeding
- Less scarring
- Less muscle damage
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster recovery
This new procedure is often performed on younger, thinner and healthier patients who may be more motivated to achieve a fast and thorough recovery from hip replacement surgery.
While minimally invasive surgery has many benefits, it is not appropriate in all cases. It may be contraindicated in patients who:
- Have had previous surgical hip procedures
- Have had serious hip injuries
- Have atypical anatomy of the hip
- Are obese
- Have cancer
- Have a metabolic disorder
- Have hip contracture
- Are extremely muscular
Apart from the exceptions mentioned, minimally invasive hip arthroplasty presents distinct advantages for most patients in terms of efficiency and comfort.
