Anterior hip replacementshave grown in popularity over the last 10 years and are now the most popular approach for orthopedic surgeons to replace hips.

Hip and knee replacement surgeon Mark Dolan, MD, said anterior hip replacements allow his team to take a minimally invasive surgical approach, which can help patients heal faster.

Minimally invasive surgery options

“A muscle-sparing approach is a way that we get access to the joint that does not cut through any of the muscles,” said Dr. Dolan. “It’s a less invasive surgical approach to replace the joint.”

Dr. Dolan said this is a way to preserve the integrity of the muscle.

“We go between the muscles in the front of your hip without cutting through or detaching any muscles,” he said.

In contrast, posterior hip replacements can be a bit more invasive and take longer for patients to heal.

“The posterior hip replacement means we cut through your gluteus maximus, or the largest of your butt muscles, and detach muscles from the back of the femur,” Dr. Dolan said. “These are later repaired back to the bone and go on to heal.”

Dr. Dolan said most patients are candidates for the muscle-sparing approach — anterior — except in cases of significant obesity or anatomic abnormalities.

The orthopedic surgeon said for knee replacement surgery, interest in a similar non-invasive surgical approach, the sub vastus, has grown over the last few years.

“The main muscle that powers the front of the knee is your quadricep muscle, which is your main thigh muscle in the front,” said Dr. Dolan. “In the traditional knee replacement, we make a cut in the middle of that muscle, that allows access to the knee. In the sub vastus approach, we don’t cut into the muscle and instead go underneath the muscle and move it to the side.”

A faster recovery with less pain

Dr. Dolan said these minimally invasive approaches allow patients to have a faster recovery with less pain.

“Hip replacement patients with an anterior approach expect to be off of their walkers and canes faster, usually within seven to ten days compared to two to three weeks,” he said. “They’re walking up stairs and without a limp sooner than the traditional approaches.”

The orthopedic surgeon said his knee replacement patients are also able to get up and down without assistance and be off their walker one to two weeks faster following the sub vastus approach.

“At Salem Health Orthopedics the surgeons are fellowship-trained hip and knee replacement surgeons whose practice is focused solely on hip and knee replacement surgeries,” said Dr. Dolan. “We stay up to date and offer the latest techniques and technological advances to help patients get through surgery as easily as possible.”

Orthopedic care

Are you considering a hip or knee replacement? Learn more about:

• Our providers
• Our services
• How to receive care at Salem Health