Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement – direct anterior approach

We understand that making sure you know what to expect from the hip replacement experience is important to you. If you have additional questions as you are reading through this material, please reach out to us to discuss.

Total hip replacement involves removing arthritic bone and damaged cartilage in the hip joint and replacing them with an implant. The hip joint is generally described as a ball-and-socket joint. The end of the thigh bone (femoral head) is replaced with a femoral stem and an artificial ball that is secured to the top of the stem. The hip socket (acetabulum) is reconstructed, typically using a metal cup lined with plastic (polyethylene). The femoral and acetabular components work together to form the artificial hip implant.

What is a muscle-sparing hip replacement?

Muscle and tissue surround and support the hip joint. During hip replacement, your surgeon must get past that muscle and soft tissue to access the bones of the joint – either from the side, the back, or the front of your body. There are hip replacement techniques with smaller incisions, designed to minimize the impact on those tissues and muscles.^1,2

Your surgery may be performed using the direct anterior approach, a surgical approach with a smaller incision at the front of the hip that leaves all the muscle intact.³ Unlike traditional surgical approaches that use larger incisions, minimally invasive techniques like the direct anterior approach, use smaller incisions. With this approach, the doctor pushes the soft tissue aside to access the hip joint and perform the joint replacement, rather than detaching any tendons or muscle.³ This has the potential to make a difference both during surgery and in recovery.³

Potential benefits

• Minimizes soft tissue impact resulting in positive functional outcomes^4,5

• Potential for a smaller incision and reduced muscle disruption, which may allow patients a shorter recovery time and less scarring³

• Smaller scar

• Walk on the same day of surgery under your doctor’s supervision

• Patients may have a decreased risk of hip dislocation after surgery⁴

What are the differences between the direct anterior approach and a traditional hip replacement?

Traditional hip replacement techniques involve operating from the side (lateral) or the back (posterior) of the hip, which requires a disturbance of the joint and connecting tissues and an incision approximately 8-12 inches long.² In comparison, the direct anterior approach requires an incision that may be 3-4 inches in length and located at the front of the hip.² In this position, the surgeon does not need to detach any of the muscles or tendons.² The table below illustrates the key potential benefits between traditional replacement and the direct anterior approach.