Anterior Approach Hip Replacement Increasing in Popularity

The rapidly growing anterior approach hip replacement procedure, which is increasing in popularity because it is less invasive and calls for reduced recovery time, recently helped golfer Tom Watson, 59,return to his sport and finish tied for the lead in regulation play of the British Open this year.

Nine months before the British Open, Watson had a severely limited range of motion that had adversely affected his game.

After seeing Dr. Joel Matta, founder and director of Saint John’s Hip and Pelvis Institute in Santa Monica, Calif., he agreed to undergo hip replacement surgery.

The anterior approach lets the surgeon reach the hip joint from the front of the body instead of from the back or side and with a 3- to 4-inch incision.
This allows the hip to be replaced without detachment of muscles from the pelvis or thigh bone (femur) during surgery. Watson concluded that the anterior approach had a number of advantages over other hip replacement techniques: the anterior approach is the least invasive, allows for faster recovery times, provides maximum range of motion and reduces risk of complications such as hip dislocation.

Matta said that the success of the surgery is enhanced by using a special table with robotic function. The HANATM table holds and turns the patient and lower extremity precisely as needed, giving the surgeon better access and limiting soft tissue trauma.

“The special table, supine patient position and during surgery X-ray checks combine to ensure that both the position of the components and leg length will be correct, which are critical to normal hip function,” Dr. Matta said. “As surgeons, we need to assure that the muscles around the hip aren’t disturbed, the parts are fitted and oriented properly, and that the leg length is correct.”