Orthopedic surgeons at Sutter Amador Hospital specialize in advanced hip replacement techniques that can help ease hip pain and restore mobility in people with severe arthritis. If you’ve tried alternatives to hip replacement without success, talk to a doctor about this common hip surgery.

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Depending on your health condition, orthopedic specialists may use the newer anterior approach to hip surgery or the traditional posterior approach. Here’s a brief description of these hip replacement techniques.

Anterior Hip Replacements

Anterior hip replacements allow the orthopedic surgeon to reach the hip joint from the side of the body instead of through the buttocks. In this approach, the surgeon is able to move the muscles aside rather than cutting through them. This creates less damage and trauma to the soft tissues around the hip, typically allowing a quicker recovery time.

In addition, there is a lower risk of dislocating the new hip prosthesis when placed via the anterior approach, since the muscles used to support the hip joint remain strong.

The anterior approach is sometimes called a “minimally invasive” hip replacement because it requires a 3- to 6-inch incision, compared to a 6- to 10-inch incision used for the posterior approach.

Posterior Hip Replacements

Posterior hip replacements are still often the preferred technique for large or muscular people because their additional soft tissue can make it hard for a surgeon to access the hip joint.

Orthopedic surgeons have a direct and clear path to the hip with the posterior approach. The orthopedic specialist makes an incision through muscles at the back of the hip, and can easily access the hip joint. The muscles are repaired and reattached at the end of the surgery.

Your New Hip Joint

Regardless of the technique, all hip replacements involve replacing the stem (the long end of the bone) and the acetabular “cup” of your hip joint with artificial joints. The artificial femoral stem is often made of titanium or cobalt chrome, and is inserted into the hollow of your femur bone. The cups are often made of polyethylene, a form of plastic. The pieces are either held in place by cement or by “ingrowth” technology, in which the bone grows between small beads or mesh on the surface of the prosthetics. 

Typically people spend one to three nights in the hospital after hip replacement, but if you are healthy, strong and have support at home, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend outpatient surgery. Most commercial insurers will cover outpatient surgery, but at present Medicare does not. Check with your insurer if you’re considering outpatient surgery. 

Most people can walk normally – without an assistive device – three to six weeks after surgery, and can resume normal activities in six to 12 weeks. Recovery of full strength is gradual and may take six to 12 months.

About 80 to 85 percent of hip replacements last 20 years, even longer depending on your activity level, according to the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.

1. American Journal of Orthopedics, 2016, March, 256-259.