The aging process can have a significant impact on your bone and joint health, as degenerative conditions like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis set in. While these conditions are not inevitable with age, they are very common, and they can have the strongest impact on the hip joints. If you are coping with chronic hip pain due to arthritis or a poorly healed fracture, hip replacement surgery may help you restore your mobility and independence to ensure healthy years ahead. Hip replacement is never considered the first line of treatment for chronic hip pain, but it is a much more promising procedure with modern advances in minimally invasive surgery. At MK Orthopedics, we specialize in anterior hip replacement surgery in Crown Point, offering our patients an alternative to more invasive procedures that deliver comparable results.

How does anterior hip replacement surgery work?

Anterior hip replacement surgery is a tissue-sparing procedure, in which the surgeon accesses the hip joint from the front of the body, rather than the side or the back where more muscle tissue is present. With specialized surgical tools, the procedure can take place through a smaller incision site without the need to detach muscle tissues from the bones. This type of surgery has several advantages, and it is a viable procedure for many individuals who qualify for more conventional hip replacement.

What are the advantages of the anterior approach?

One of the most important considerations prior to hip replacement surgery is whether or not the patient is able to become active after surgery and participate in the rehabilitative process. With anterior hip replacement, it is much easier to transition into post-operative physical therapy, because the body has undergone less stress during surgery itself. There is a lower likelihood of joint dislocation, because the muscle tissue remains fully intact, and patients often report less pain following surgery than those who undergo other hip replacement procedures.

Minimally invasive surgery has revolutionized orthopedic care, because it allows more of the healthy tissue to remain untouched. This can also lower the cost of care, because patients can stay in the hospital for a shorter period of time, since the risk of surgical complications and infections is much lower. Patients may even see an accelerated recovery, because the body is more able to sustain full weight on the hip and remain more flexible following surgery. To fully explore the benefits of minimally invasive anterior hip replacement surgery, contact MK Orthopedics to schedule your surgical consultation. If surgery is not appropriate, our team can help you explore non-invasive solutions to restore your quality of life with healthier bones and joints.