Our Highly Skilled Portland-Area Orthopedic Surgeons Perform Minimally Invasive Hip Replacements to Relieve Pain, Restore Function, and Promote Faster Recovery
Hip pain that impairs mobility, negatively impacts quality of life, and doesn't respond to conservative management can require a surgical solution. Traditional open procedures might not be your only option. At Northwest Extremity Specialists, our Portland-area orthopedic surgeons are highly skilled in traditional and minimally invasive hip replacement methods. Are you tired of living with hip pain-related limitations? Contact us to schedule an appointment with an experienced orthopedic surgeon at one of our 15 Greater Portland offices.
Your hips play a fundamental role in ambulation, providing support and stability and facilitating smooth and coordinated movement. Unfortunately, traumatic injuries, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other degenerative conditions can permanently damage the hip joint, making surgical intervention necessary to alleviate pain and restore function.
Hip replacement surgery, also called hip arthroplasty, involves removing and replacing the damaged bone with artificial components. Some patients may benefit from a minimally invasive approach. Here's what you should know about minimally invasive hip replacement surgery and how our Greater Portland orthopedic surgeons can help you decide if a minimally invasive procedure is right for you.
Comparing Minimally Invasive and Traditional Open Hip Replacement Surgeries
Your hip joints consist of a ball at the top of the femur and a socket in the pelvis, forming a ball-and-socket configuration. Hip replacement surgery entails replacing one or both parts of the joint. The orthopedic surgeon replaces the damaged bone with prostheses made of metal and ceramic in both minimally invasive and traditional open procedures, but the method used to access the hip joint differs.
In a traditional open hip replacement, the surgeon does this with a single 10 to 12-inch incision that, unfortunately, causes significant disruption to the surrounding tissues. Meanwhile, during a minimally invasive hip arthroplasty, your orthopedic surgeon makes one or more smaller incisions—typically between three and six inches—and gently moves aside muscles to accomplish the same task.
Examining the Advantages of Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement Surgery
Performing hip replacements with smaller incisions can have wide-ranging benefits for patients. Some of the advantages of minimally invasive hip replacement surgery include the following:
- Reduced tissue disruption. Unlike traditional open surgery, which requires larger incisions, the incisions used in minimally invasive procedures are much smaller. This leads to less disruption of muscles and tissues, reducing postoperative pain and accelerating recovery.
- Less blood loss. Smaller incisions typically result in less blood loss during surgery. This can be especially beneficial for patients who may be at a higher risk of complications related to excessive blood loss.
- Lower infection risk. The smaller incisions used in minimally invasive surgeries also contribute to a lower risk of infection. Less exposed tissue minimizes the chances of postoperative infections, promoting a smoother recovery process.
- Faster recovery. Patients who undergo a minimally invasive hip replacement often experience a quicker recovery compared to those who have open surgery. Reducing trauma to the surrounding tissues allows for a speedier healing process and enables you to return to your daily activities sooner.
Deciding if Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement Surgery Is Right for You
Despite being a common procedure, minimally invasive hip replacement is still a major surgery. Patients must be healthy enough to undergo a significant operation and capable of carefully following pre- and post-op instructions. Additionally, research shows that the best candidates for this procedure are younger, maintain a healthy weight, lack any significant bone or joint deformities, don't have osteoporosis, and haven't previously had hip surgery.
Minimally invasive surgical techniques present an exciting opportunity for patients seeking a faster recovery and a less invasive approach to joint replacement. Are you a good candidate for minimally invasive hip replacement surgery? Our exceptional orthopedic surgeons can help you explore your options as you embark on the journey to improved hip health.