What are the Different Types of Hip Replacement Procedures?

There are several different types of hip replacement procedures. Types of hip replacement procedures include traditional hip replacement, minimally invasive hip replacement, and anterior approach hip replacement. While all three recreate the hip joint, all have different recovery periods.

Various conditions and ailments can lead to the need for a hip replacement. Osteoarthritis tops the list of the most common reasons an individual would need a hip replacement. Pain often leads individuals with osteoarthritis to consider hip replacement procedures to participate in daily activities and continue to lead a full life. Other reasons for hip replacement include injury, infection, and brittle bones.

Patients should consult with a physician to discuss the various types of hip replacement procedures if pain and stiffness start to interfere with life. Hip pain can make it difficult to walk, bend over to tie shoes, and get a full night’s sleep. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can help confirm the need for a hip replacement procedure.

Traditional hip replacement is an invasive surgery. Physicians make an incision along the side of the hip and detach muscles to free the joint. Once the joint is free, work is done on the head of the femur and hip socket to recreate the hip joint with the help of an implant to recreate the ball and socket joint.

Recovery from traditional hip replacement takes some time. Patients usually remain in the hospital for four to five days and continue rehabilitation on an outpatient basis. This rehabilitation process includes physical therapy sessions to help regain strength and range of motion in the hip joint.

Minimally invasive hip replacement are another option for hip replacement procedures. In this procedure, the incisions are smaller and there is less muscle and tissue damage than in the traditional hip replacement procedure. The implant procedure is the same, but the surgery may take longer because physicians work with x-rays and special instruments to guide them through the small incisions.

Less time is spent in the hospital after a minimally invasive hip replacement. Hospital stays range from one to two days, and the rehabilitation process may proceed at a faster rate. Other benefits include less pain, less muscle damage, and smaller incision scars.

The anterior approach is another option for hip replacement procedures. Physicians make the incision on the front of the hip, limiting the need to cut through muscles and soft tissue to reach the joint. Patients can leave the hospital one to three days after the surgery. Recovery involves encouraging the patient to use the joint normally as soon as possible.