A hip replacement is a common surgical procedure that involves making an incision, removing damaged joint tissue, and replacing it with a prosthetic. The prosthetic mimics the real bone in the joint, improving mobility while reducing arthritic pain.
A traditional hip replacement requires larger incisions and a longer recovery time — though it remains highly successful. However, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) options offer the same success with a faster recovery and less hip pain.
At Alpha Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Dr. Brian Snow and Dr. Jon Thompson offer various forms of joint replacements, including robotic joint replacements, to improve your quality of life.
During a minimally invasive hip replacement, you’ll have either general anesthesia or a nerve block to prevent pain. We use prior imaging or the robotic images to make small incisions near the damage within the joint.
We then remove the damaged bone and tissues to make room for the prosthetic. Using the MAKO robotic arm, we make precise cuts in bone and tissue to minimize damage to surrounding cartilage and bone.
The exact areas we address are the damaged femoral head and cup within the acetabulum. After removing the damaged femoral head, we replace it with a prosthetic to fit your specific joint space. A metal socket replaces the area within the acetabulum that acts as cartilage, enabling smooth, flawless movement.
We place a metal stem into the thigh bone, which is then attached to the prosthetic femoral head. Cement or screws hold the socket in the acetabulum, and we add a spacer to help the new pieces glide smoothly together.
The last step is to ensure everything is in place correctly with imaging before closing the incisions.
The most significant difference between a minimally invasive hip replacement and a traditional one is the smaller incisions. We sometimes use the MAKO robot to help us make more precise cuts, which also causes less damage to surrounding tissue.
MIS surgery is more precise, carries fewer risks, and causes less damage to the surrounding tissue than traditional surgery. It allows for faster healing within the joint and fewer complications and postoperative pain.
MIS is very attractive to anyone who needs a hip replacement — but it’s not for everyone. We discuss your overall health, expectations for rehabilitation, and body composition to determine if you’re a good candidate for a minimally invasive hip replacement.
You may be a good candidate for this procedure if you’re younger and at an ideal height and weight. It’s also suitable if you have good bone quality and have good muscle strength and range of motion.
The more active you are before surgery, the better off you’ll be during the recovery process. Rehabilitation is more vigorous for minimally invasive patients, which speeds up the process and gets you back to your normal activities faster.
Call our McKinney or Prosper, Texas, offices, or contact us through our website to schedule an appointment with Dr. Thompson or Dr. Snow to discuss a hip replacement. Take the next step toward faster healing and recovery today.
