The hip joint is located where the pelvis and the thigh bone meet and is one of the body’s largest weight-bearing joints. If you’re suffering from hip pain and have tried treatment methods like medications, injections, and physical therapy to no avail, it may be time to consider hip replacement surgery. During hip replacement surgery, the affected hip is replaced with a prosthetic implant. A total hip replacement involves a new ball and socket, so essentially, you’ll be replacing the entire joint.
There was a time when hip replacement surgery left large scars, and the recovery period seemed an eternity for those decided to get a new hip. Thankfully, doctors now offer surgery that involves the use of minimally invasive instruments and techniques. In fact, minimally invasive hip replacement is now one of the most common orthopedic procedures performed.
There are numerous advantages of undergoing a minimally invasive hip replacement, versus a traditional hip replacement. Here are ten of the top advantages why you may want to choose a minimally invasive hip replacement procedure to help get you back on your feet.
- Faster Recovery Time: Because the healthy muscles and tendons around the hip joint can be preserved with minimally invasive surgery, it allows for optimized surgical results and accelerated recovery time.
- Smaller Incisions: Unlike traditional hip replacement techniques that require an incision approximately 8 to 12 inches long, minimally invasive hip replacement incisions are a fraction of that – usually 3 to 4 inches only.
- Less scarring: Because the incision from minimally invasive hip replacement surgery is significantly smaller, you can expect less scarring.
- Outpatient or Overnight Stay: Depending on your health and doctor’s recommendations, minimally invasive hip replacement surgery can be performed either as an outpatient procedure or an overnight hospital stay. This means you can leave the medical facility faster to recover in the privacy of your home.
- Walk Sooner: A majority of patients can walk the day of surgery and rely on walking devices for only about two weeks after minimally invasive hip replacement surgery, which are better prospects than with traditional surgery.
- Less Pain: Because there is far less disruption of muscles, minimal tissue trauma, and smaller wounds, pain after surgery is minimal. This reduces your need for prescription painkillers and allows you to be more comfortable.
- Less Blood Loss: The smaller incision size in minimally invasive surgery lends itself to less bleeding.
- Less Risk of Dislocation: Because the surgery doesn’t affect the muscles and tissues around the hip, the risk of the implant dislocation and limping is very minimal.
- No Hip Precautions: With traditional hip replacement surgery, patients cannot flex the hip beyond 90 degrees during recovery, making everyday activities like sitting on the toilet or getting into a car extremely difficult. Because there is no splitting and detaching of muscles around the hip joint with minimally invasive techniques, there is no need to follow such precautions.
- No Need to Limit Range of Motion: With minimally invasive hip replacement surgery, activities such as sitting cross-legged, bending, and climbing are no longer challenging.
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement Surgery in Kansas City, Missouri
If you are interested in learning more about minimally invasive hip replacement surgery and if it’s a good option for you, speak with a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. The experts at
Advanced Bone & Joint are happy to help you with your orthopedic condition or injury. Visit us today, and see how we can improve your health and wellbeing through a variety of treatments and surgical techniques.
To make an appointment, call Advanced Bone & Joint at (636) 229-4222 or fill out our appointment request form. We look forward to seeing you.