Direct Anterior Total Hip Replacement

Introduction

Total hip replacement is one of the most successful surgeries for relieving pain and restoring movement in patients with hip arthritis. The direct anterior approach is a muscle sparing approach to the hip joint which allows for improved post operative pain control and improved early recovery from surgery. 

What is the Direct Anterior Approach?

In this approach, the surgeon makes an incision at the front of the hip. Instead of cutting through muscles, the surgeon works between them. This allows for less trauma to the soft tissue which in turn may reduce post operative pain and allow for quicker recovery. 

Benefits of Direct Anterior Hip Replacement

1. Muscle-Sparing Technique

• Instead of cutting muscle, a plane between the muscles is utilized

• This reduces soft tissue trauma 

2. Faster Recovery

• Less initial pain and swelling may allow improved early recovery in comparison to traditional approaches.

3. Less Pain After Surgery

• Because muscles are not cut, patients often report less discomfort in the early recovery period.

4. Lower Risk of Hip Dislocation

• The direct anterior approach has a lower risk of the hip “popping out” after surgery.

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Conclusion

The direct anterior approach to total hip replacement is a muscle-sparing technique that may lead to less pain, faster recovery, and a lower risk of dislocation. Talk with Dr. Cone about whether this approach is the best option for you.

References

1. Barrett, W. P., Turner, S. E., & Leopold, J. P. (2013). Prospective randomized study of direct anterior vs postero-lateral approach for total hip arthroplasty. Journal of Arthroplasty, 28(9), 1634–1638.

2. Restrepo, C., Parvizi, J., Pour, A. E., & Hozack, W. J. (2010). Prospective randomized study of two surgical approaches for total hip arthroplasty. Journal of Arthroplasty, 25(5), 671–679.

3. Seng, B. E., Berend, K. R., Ajluni, A. F., & Lombardi, A. V. (2009). Anterior-supine minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty: Defining the learning curve. Orthopedic Clinics of North America, 40(3), 343–350.

4. Higgins, B. T., Barlow, D. R., Heagerty, N. E., & Lin, T. J. (2015). Anterior vs posterior approach for total hip arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Arthroplasty, 30(3), 419–434.