hip replacements....Lamont you can delete if you want;

[wyliec]

I only put it here because this is where we hear the most about replacements. It seems like most times when a person mentions they are getting a hip replacement, someone states that the approach (the surgical site) they had is the best. For those planning on a hip replacement, whether new to the game or a veteran (of hip replacement), this is a good article:


https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2000333-technique

I thought it was a good article because I work with ortho patients, with different approaches.

 

[Peteoz]

Wow....thanks Wylie.....I only thought there were three procedures. When my sports physician told to me to get an anterior approach for quicker recovery, I told him there was an excellent surgeon where I lived, but he only did posterior procedures, so should I go to Sydney to use someone who performed the anterior approach. His reply was - “the quality of the surgeon is of significantly more importance that the type of procedure used”. I rate the sports physician very highly. He looks after the Aussie basketball team and one of our major rugby league franchises.

i just thought that was a extra piece of info worthy of note.

Pete

 

[JayBros]

Pete, your sports physician is in the V-ring of the bulls-eye. As a double THA veteran I had a conversation with my orthopod about eight years after my first replacement and asked him about the anterior approach. He said that in his opinion the alleged advantage(s) of the anterior were over hyped. As with any serious medical procedure, and THAs are a major procedure for the patient, comorbidities can also turn what might be a somewhat routine event into a much higher risk procedure. Most important, IMO, is the number of procedures the surgeon has performed. Mine routinely did 300 per year. As always, mileages vary.

 

[ARtraveler]

Whatever method you use, just make sure your particular surgeon is good at it, as in experienced in the procedure.

I had the anterior approach. I was not unhappy with the results. I went from three years in a wheelchair back to riding my Spyder in early April. The first week was a bit tough. The surgery was in early January. Bought a new two wheeler in June.

They do good stuff these days. :yes:

 

[Eviltwin]

I'll chime in. I had bilateral hips put in about 9 years ago with the anterior (front) approach. At that time, it was more difficult to find a surgeon that did it, but in our area, there was one large practice that had several surgeons doing them and so we went there. My recovery to the point of walking independently with a cane was about 2-3 weeks and I was back at work at week four. Pain was minimal and I had no complications.

My wife is a Physical Therapist. She has dealt with numerous hip replacements over the years. Long term, there is no real difference in the outcomes of pts that have one approach vs. the other. Short term however, recovery is much faster with anterior and there are many less restrictions on movement so that the hip joint does not dislocate before the muscles have healed. Most of the orthos these days are doing the anterior since the benefits (short recovery, minimal muscle damage) outweigh the objections (I can't see the hip joint). Most of her hip joint patients these days are anterior, for those reasons.

 

[irvin48]

great! you had to show pictures. i have a right hip coming up in jan.
i never go to youtube or anywhere to see what happens. to much
wussy. had both my knees done already .dont want to see that either.
time to go throw uuuuuuuup !
ps-was a farm kid but have never killed a mouse!:yikes:

 

[JayBros]

I'm not a fan of any specific approach to THA, just try express my view on what worked for me. On my first replacement I was in the hospital for one overnight and walked out totally unassisted, carrying my useless walker, the next morning. I walked a mile two days after the surgery, was quite pooped the next day. I had begun the rehab exercises vigorously before the surgery and started them in the recovery room as soon as I could move my legs. I immediately went into the pool at the local Y and began swimming in addition to the daily rehab exercises thrice daily. My goal was to ride a bicycle 20 miles the day of my six week post-op check with the orthopod. Did it! Sure, didn't have a lot of power in the leg when starting from a dead stop, but nevertheless could ride.

Yes, some will look at my avatar and say, "Stupid Jarhead just trying to prove how tough he is." No, absolutely not. What I try to do in relating the above is show that PATIENT ATTITUDE IS THE KEY to successful recovery and resumption of normal life. If you can, get the rehab exercises as soon as possible and begin doing them earnestly before the surgery. If you're fat, lose weight so the new joint won't have to haul the extra pounds around. If you smoke, quit; it will help the healing process. Set goals in your recovery. Above all, listen to your body. YMMV.

 

[wyliec]

Most of the orthos these days are doing the anterior since the benefits (short recovery, minimal muscle damage) outweigh the objections (I can't see the hip joint). Most of her hip joint patients these days are anterior, for those reasons.

Where I work as a Physical Therapist, it's still old school posterior approach. Jay Bros hit the nail on the head- patient attitude is key.