Your hip is probably one of the most important parts of your body. The way it engages in all types of movement, allowing you to walk and bend and maneuver your body is the doing of this seemingly simple union of bones. Well, sometimes, this very thing can need surgery. Whether it be an accident, a disorder, or just old age, hip replacement surgery is important and you need a good orthopedic surgeon for the procedure. Here is what you need to know about posterior and anterior hip replacement surgery.

Differences Between Posterior And Anterior Hip Replacement Surgery

What Is Posterior Hip Replacement Surgery?

In medical terms, the word “posterior” means from the back, so in a posterior hip replacement surgery, the main incision is made from the back of the hip so that the surgeon can reach the hip joint easily. Then, once the surgeon is in the affected area, they will remove any damaged or worn cartilage and create a space for the new prosthetic ball-and-socket joint. This is a very outdated approach in hip replacement surgery, because it affects a lot of muscles and the procedure can be invasive.

n general, hip replacement surgeries are invasive, but when you opt for a posterior hip replacement surgery, the mode of entry is from the back and this allows a lot of muscles and bones to get involved. This is why you want to consult this with your doctor and then figure out a way to make the procedure as less invasive as possible and damage as few muscles and cartilage as possible.

What Is Anterior Hip Replacement Surgery?

Anterior hip replacement surgery, also called direct anterior hip arthroplasty, basically means that the incision will be made in the front of your hip, mainly the groin, from which the surgeon gains access to the affected hip joint and then replaces it. Anterior hip replacement surgery is a lot better than its posterior counterpart, because the mode of entry allows a lot less muscle damage and the hip joint is located fairly easily.

The entry allows the clear separation of the muscles, which keeps most of the mass intact and doesn’t lead to any reduction or picking away of the muscle mass. This also leads to less pain and quicker healing post-surgery, which is one of the main concerns of people who go for this particular surgery.

It’s no lie that hip replacement surgeries can take a long time to heal, but if you really want to go down to the specifics, then anterior hip replacement surgery will be better in most cases than posterior hip replacement surgery.

You might want to get the final word in from your doctor, because it is not such an easy choice to make. You have to factor in your age, the type of injury, the severity of the injury, and the complications you’re feeling before the surgery.

Which One Is Better?

This is a very general question and it can’t be answered in one go. Whenever you want to go for a hip replacement surgery, it is best to have a thorough consultation with your doctor. If you are young and the incision is easier to make from behind, then you can go for posterior hip replacement surgery.

If the incision is safer to be made on the front, then anterior hip replacement surgery it is. You will have to get the most suitable opinion from your doctor in the end, because they have evaluated everything and they know what’s best for you. But you should make a decision sooner than later with the help of a surgeon and also your pain management doctor Woodbridge if you’re seeing one.

Healing Time

When it comes to hip replacement surgeries, a lot of people are concerned with the healing time following the procedure and it is a valid concern.

Posterior Hip Replacement Surgery

So, when it comes to posterior hip replacement surgery, it takes more time for you to heal and get back on track with your life. Since the incision causes the muscles to be affected and there is really no way that you can stop this from happening, you will not only have to heal from the fact that you have a prosthetic in your body, but also your muscles will take some time to heal too.

This is something that you have to keep in mind when choosing a specific type of surgery.

Anterior Hip Replacement Surgery

As for the anterior hip replacement surgery, the healing time is a lot quicker, and you also don’t feel a lot of pain after the surgery. This is something that is really good, especially if you don’t want to be in the throes of pain all the time.

This is going to lead to a smoother recovery process and you will be back on track in no time. But you do want to take it easy for a couple of days until you get the green light from your doctor.

Which Is More Complex?

Hip replacement surgeries in general are quite complex and they can sound quite scary, especially when you don’t know what to expect.

Posterior Hip Replacement Surgery

Well, when it comes to a posterior hip replacement surgery, you have to know that this will be less complex than other hip replacement surgeries, because after the incision is made and then the muscles are simply cut away, without having to worry too much about anything.

This makes the surgery easy to execute, but it does take the patient more time to heal and ultimately get back on track with their life activities.

Anterior Hip Replacement Surgery

As for an anterior hip replacement surgery, it is something that is really complex, because there is no option of cutting or getting rid of the muscles when making the incision and reaching for the affected joint. The surgeon not only has to replace the joint, which is already quite complex and invasive, but they also have to split the muscles and keep them intact, which leaves little room for work and definitely no room for error.

This is why anterior hip replacement surgery is considered to be more complex and you have to find a good surgeon to execute the procedure for the best results.

What Muscles Are Involved?

You have heard on and on throughout the entirety of this guide about muscles being or not being involved in these two particular hip replacement surgeries, but you might be wondering: Well, what muscles are involved in it anyway?

Here is a breakdown of all the muscles involved in a general hip replacement surgery:

• First and foremost is the tensor fascia lata, which is a wide piece of soft fibrous tissue on the top of your outer thigh. This muscle is extremely important as it helps to keep the knee and the hip stabilized, and if it is damaged during surgery, you can only imagine what it might do to the rest of your body.
• Next is the large gluteus maximus, a muscle that is attached to the fascia lata, and it allows for the extension of the outer thigh. It is also involved in keeping the pelvis stable.
• Lastly, there are hip rotators and they are smaller, engaged muscles that connect the femur to the pelvis and prevent dislocation.

Conclusion

There are multiple ways you can go about a hip replacement surgery and now you know all the differences between anterior and posterior hip replacement surgery. Consult your hip replacement surgeon Woodbridge who can help you choose the right procedure.