Anterior hip replacement

• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster rehabilitation
• Less scarring
• Return to daily activities faster than traditional hip replacement
• Less post-operative pain
• No muscles injured resulting in greater movement post-surgery

Every patient receives an individual assessment to take into account all factors that play a part in the hip replacement process, eg day to day function, the degree of arthritis, general health and hip pathology.

While it would be beneficial to perform the anterior approach to all patients needing hip replacement surgery in regards to speeding up recovery, it is more important to ensure a suitable and safe recovery for each individual patient.

The posterior approach will be used if the surgeon decides it is safer to do so. Although this results in a slower recovery for patients, the long term function of the joint will be identical to the anterior replacement.

Preparing for hip replacement surgery can be a daunting and hard process. One of the most important decisions is finding the surgeon you feel is best suited to performing your surgery. When meeting your consultant, be sure to ask the following questions:

• Can you take the time to answer my questions about the surgery?
• What approach do you recommend for my hip replacement? How much experience do you have with this approach?
• What results should I expect after this surgery? What are the typical results for someone in my condition?
• What are my options for the prosthetic materials? What would you choose if you were having this procedure?
• What are the possible complications of this procedure? Am I at greater risk of any of them?
• Is there anything I can do before the surgery to help have a good outcome?

"As an experienced hip surgeon, I believe firmly that the anterior approach provides improved outcomes and faster rehabilitation. All of my patients receive an individual assessment, allowing me to take all factors into account before making a decision regarding which surgery is most suitable for them. This ensures everyone receives the best clinical outcome, with the least chance of complication."