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Mercy Orthopedic Surgeons Discuss The Anterior Approach To Hip Replacement At Free Seminar On June 5th In Bethesda, MD

Mercy Medical Center orthopedic surgeons Drs. Thomas Whitten, Joseph Ciotola, Marc Hungerford and Kamala Littleton will discuss the Anterior Approach to Hip Replacement on Saturday, June 5th at 10 a.m. at the Bethesda Marriott at 5151 Pooks Hill Road. Call 410-332-4955 to register. Note flier at bottom for more details.

BACKGROUND ON ANTERIOR HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY

WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR ANTERIOR HIP REPLACEMENT?

Many people suffering with arthritis, hip pain, stiffness and limited hip movement can now choose minimally invasive surgery when hip replacement is the chosen treatment of the patient and their doctor.

One of the least invasive surgical options is Anterior Hip Replacement --a proven technique that minimizes the pain and the time from surgery to recovery.

WHAT IS ANTERIOR HIP REPLACEMENT?

The Anterior Approach to hip replacement surgery allows the surgeon to reach the hip joint from the front of the hip as opposed to the lateral (side) or the posterior (back) approach. This way, the hip can be replaced without detaching muscle from the pelvis or femur during surgery. The surgeon can work through the natural interval between the muscles. The most important muscles for hip function, the gluteal muscles that attach to the pelvis and femur, are left undisturbed and, therefore, do not require a healing process to recover from surgical trauma.

HOW DOES ANTERIOR HIP REPLACEMENT IMPROVE PATIENT RECOVERY?

Conventional Hip Replacement
Conventional lateral or posterior surgery typically requires strict precautions for the patient. Most patients must limit hip motion for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. They must limit flexing of the hip to no more than 60 to 90 degrees which complicates normal activities like sitting in a chair, on a toilet seat, putting on shoes or getting into a car. Simply climbing stairs may also be more difficult during recovery.

Anterior Hip Replacement
Anterior Hip Replacement allows patients to immediately bend their hip freely and bear full weight when comfortable, resulting in a more rapid return to normal function.

Disclaimer: All patients are different and have varying degrees of disability prior to surgery, as well as inherent differences in their overall capabilities. The outcomes described herein speak for the majority of patients with normal hip deterioration and average capabilities for their age group.

Click here to view a PDF of more information about the seminar.