Dr. Joel Matta is an orthopedic surgeon and the founder and director of the Hip and Pelvis Institute at St John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. He is accredited with the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Dr. Matta has performed over 600 total ,hip replacement surgeries using the anterior approach. More information about the anterior approach can be found at http://www.hipandpelvis.com http://www.HipandPelvis.com
In today's world, people lead busy lives and careers. Any illness can set them back days, weeks, or possibly more. Arthritis and other diseases affecting the joints can stop someone in their tracks, regardless of age or activity level. This disease can eat away at people's lives, causing great pain and limitations to their daily activities.
Families suffer as a whole when the affected person cannot enjoy life and activities because of the pain in their pelvis.
Total hip replacement has taken on a whole new look. Like other medical advances, new surgical methods are being developed over time. Surgeries that once required months of recovery time now take only weeks, even days.
Any type of joint replacement surgery is going to carry certain risks. Sometimes the post-operative benefits simply outweigh any risks involved.
The term "hip replacement" usually causes more than a little concern for people who are told they have to undergo the operation. Traditionally, hip replacement surgery conjures images of major surgery and a long recovery process.
Different surgeons perform different kinds of hip replacement surgeries: lateral, antero-lateral, posterior and anterior techniques.
Conventional hip replacement surgery helps thousands of people each year receive freedom from hip joint pain. Like all medical procedures, the process has evolved over the years. Anterior hip replacement surgery is becoming the most common form of hip replacement for a variety of reasons. We would like to discuss those reasons and give you an inside look at conventional hip replacement versus anterior hip replacement surgery.
American baby boomers are aging, and some of them are finding that in order to maintain their quality of life they may need a hip replacement. However, many people that are in need of a hip replacement are otherwise healthy and have an active life and career. A number of patients have decided against surgery because they cannot afford to take weeks out of their lives to recover from a painful surgery.
Arthritis and severe hip injury may lead to extreme pain or even inability to walk. Some doctors may recommend total hip replacement surgery for patients with severe hip problems. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic arthritis are three common causes of hip pain and immobility. If you have a family history of osteoarthritis and you're developing mobility restrictions due to hip pain, you could be a candidate for hip replacement surgery.
After your total hip replacement surgery using the anterior approach, expect to stay in the hospital for at least 2 to 3 days. You will likely be in moderate pain for about a couple of weeks when walking after the surgery but you will receive medication if you need it. You can shower with your stiches because they have a protective film on it. They will eventually get resorbed into the skin tissue.
One of the most important factors in deciding whether to have total hip replacement surgery is knowing what to expect from it. The surgery will likely relieve your pain and give you more mobility, but what else should you be aware of? The ability to walk pain-free may be your primary goal. While "pain-free" would be ideal, you may still experience some pain but significantly less pain than before the surgery.
The anterior approach is a revolutionary improvement in hip replacement surgery, according to leading orthopedic surgeons in the United States. It makes patients heal much faster, but it is still not offered as an option in most U.S. hospitals.
Reason One: Faster Recovery. While it may take patients four to six months to fully recover following conventional hip replacement surgery, the anterior approach enables patients to recover in only four weeks.
Dr. Joel Matta is an orthopedic surgeon and the founder and director of the Hip and Pelvis Institute at St John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. He is accredited with the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Dr. Matta has performed over 600 total ,
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