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What Is the Difference Between Lateral and Anterior Hip Replacement?
Total hip replacement is now being opted for by many people who have arthritis. According to a recent survey, 28% of people above 45 years of age go through a hip replacement for a permanent cure.
While hip replacement is being systemized, there are differences in the surgical techniques followed by surgeons. The surgical procedure that the doctor goes through might be correct for a person but may not be ideal for others. It is mainly the decision of the doctor. Let us know more about these techniques.
Why Do You Need A Hip Replacement?
The main aim of the process is to restore normal functioning and range of motion of the hip. The most common reason includes:
Osteoarthritis
Fracture
Rheumatoid arthritis
Tumour
Infection
Abnormal growth
Loss of blood supply
The doctor may find the anterior approach fit if the cause of your hip replacement is arthritis. However, he may also recommend the process in case of damage. It helps the surgeon fix the hip that was previously replaced.
He may also find it fit in unusual circumstances, like when the position of the hip bone is very difficult, or interference with medical conditions can increase the risk of complications.
Types Of Hip Replacement Surgery
In India, around 3,00,000 total hip replacement surgeries are performed yearly. However, not all follow the same method. There is a difference in the incision location, and some are performed with a minimally invasive technique. Plus, the overall risk associated with the process is also different. Let us discuss it point-wise:
Lateral Surgical Approach
Direct Anterior Hip Replacement
This type of surgical approach is carried out on the side of the hip joint.
On the other hand, the lateral surgical approach is more balanced between the posterior and anterior surgical procedures.
Here, the doctor asks the patient to position themself on their side in the process. Then a surgical incision is made directly outside of the hip.
This surgical approach is becoming most common these days.
Doctors have been using the direct anterior system for more than 100 years now, and it’s still increasing over so many years.
During the process, the patient is asked to lie on their back. Then, the doctors make a surgical incision coming down the front thigh.
Advantages Of The Lateral And Anterior Surgical Approaches
As the process of the different approaches varies, so do their advantages. Here are the advantages that you may experience when going through these approaches:
Lateral Surgical Approaches
Direct Anterior Hip Replacement
The most amazing advantage of the lateral surgical approach is the balance of the two methods.
It can also rectify deformities and push specialised implants with reduced dislocation rates compared to what is experienced by people using the posterior approach.
There are many advantages of the direct anterior hip replacement process. The two most common ones are early postoperative recovery and low dislocation risk.
Many surgeons have noticed that the risk of dislocation involved in anterior hip replacement is relatively lower than the posterior. Further, the second advantage is people who go through this process tend to have a shorter hospitalization period.
The major difference between the two approaches is, unlike lateral (side of the hip) approaches, the anterior approach uses an incision in the front of the hip while the patient is lying on their back.
While both options for hip replacement provide some benefits, they are not without their disadvantages. Hence, it’s important to discuss these issues with your surgeon when it’s time to consider hip replacement surgery.
Conclusion
Above are the different types of hip replacement approaches your doctor can follow. Unfortunately, there is no such comparison whether which approach is better as one approach may benefit a patient while it may not work for others.
So it is better to take the suggestion of the doctor. He/she will guide you on which approach will be suitable for you by examining your condition, hip motion, and the problem’s cause.
Sahyadri Hospital provides the Hip Replacement treatment in pune. Call us now to schedule your appointment! Get in touch with our experts to know more details about various types of hip replacement surgery, now!
FAQs
What is the difference between lateral and anterior hip replacement? Lateral approaches access the hip from the side, while anterior approaches access it from the front.
Which hip replacement method is better? Both have advantages; the choice depends on the patient’s condition and the surgeon’s expertise.
What are the benefits of the anterior approach? It often results in quicker recovery and less post-operative pain.
Are there risks unique to either approach? Each method has specific risks, like nerve damage in the anterior approach or muscle weakness in the lateral approach.
How long is the recovery period after hip replacement? Recovery generally takes 6-12 weeks but varies by individual and surgical method.
For a quick response to all your queries, do call us.
