Hip Surgery

The hip is a large “ball and socket” joint, which is commonly affected by a disease called osteoarthritis. The bone surfaces are covered with cartilage. This is a tissue that allows frictionless motion between the thigh bone (femur) and the pelvis (acetabulum). Osteoarthritis is a condition where the cartilage between the femur and the acetabulum wears out.

Hip Replacement Surgery

Osteoarthritis can cause a range of symptoms, from mild discomfort to severe pain and disability. This can progress over a period of months to years. Often patients will experience stiffness, groin pain and a limp.

Initial treatments may include activity modification, anti-inflammatories, exercise, weight control and physiotherapy. In severe disease, patients may require total joint replacement with an artificial hip. This can be performed conventionally with manual instrumentation, or with the aid of a robot.

Hip replacement surgery one of the most effective surgical treatments to improve patients quality of life. In a total hip replacement, the damaged joint surfaces are removed and replaced with prosthetic components. Advancements in implants and surgical techniques have lead to significant improvements in implant longevity and post-operative recovery.

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surgical approach to the hip joint

Anterior and posterior hip replacements differ primarily in the different ways the surgeon can access the hip joint. In anterior hip replacement, surgeons access the hip joint from the front, between muscles, potentially allowing for a reduced risk of dislocation. Conversely, posterior hip replacement involves accessing the hip from the back, which involves detaching and repairing the small tendons at the back of the hip joint. This approach provides superior access and visualisation, allowing for a reduced risk of intraoperative complications such as fracture and nerve injury.

Each approach has its own specific profile of advantages and disadvantages. There is now an increasing body of evidence to demonstrate that there is no difference in the patient outcome depending on which approach is utilised. Overall, the choice between anterior and posterior hip replacement depends on factors such as the patient’s anatomy, surgeon preference, and the specific goals of the surgery.