What is Minimally Invasive Total Hip Replacement?
Minimally invasive total hip replacement is a surgical procedure performed through one or two small incisions rather than the single long incision of 10-12-inches as in the traditional approach.
Hip Anatomy
The hip joint is one of the body's largest weight-bearing joints and is the point where the thighbone (femur) and pelvis (acetabulum) join. It is a ball-and-socket joint in which the head of the femur forms the ball and the pelvic acetabulum forms the socket. The joint surface is covered by a smooth articular cartilage that cushions and enables smooth movement of the joint.
Hip Arthritis
Hip arthritis is a painful and common disease of the hip joint caused by damage to the cartilage. Total hip replacement surgery is an option to relieve severe arthritis pain that limits your daily activities.
Minimally Invasive Total Hip Replacement Procedure
Surgery may be recommended in patients with severe cartilage damage and if conservative treatment options such as anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy do not relieve the symptoms.
For minimally invasive hip replacement, the implants remain the same as traditional hip replacement; the difference is the use of a smaller incision to perform the surgery and minimal underlying soft tissue dissection. The surgery is performed under spinal anesthesia.
In a minimally invasive approach, your surgeon makes a 3-6-inch incision over the side of your hip to expose the hip joint. The muscles are minimally dissected to reach the joint. The femur is dislocated from the acetabulum. The surface of the socket is cleaned and the femoral head component made of metal or ceramic is placed on the femoral stem. The new joint is realigned. All the new parts are secured in place using special cement. The muscles and tendons around the new joint are repaired and the incision is closed.
Advantages of Minimally Invasive Total Hip Replacement
The advantages of minimally invasive total hip replacement as compared with traditional total hip replacement may include:
- Smaller incisions
- No need for hip precautions
- Lesser muscle dissection
- Less postoperative pain
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less trauma to the surrounding tissues
- Quicker recovery
- Less blood loss
- Less scarring
- Faster rehabilitation
Risks and Complications of Minimally Invasive Total Hip Replacement
As with any major surgical procedure, there are certain potential risks and complications involved with total hip replacement surgery. They include:
- Infection
- Injury to neighboring nerves and blood vessels
- Formation of blood clots in the leg veins
- Implant malposition
- Fracture of the femur or pelvis
