Anterior Hip Replacement vs Posterior Hip Replacement

Total Hip replacement surgery is one of the most successful surgical procedures that has provided relief and restored mobility for millions of patients suffering from hip arthritis worldwide. Over the years multiple approaches were developed to access the hip and perform the hip replacement surgery. In this blog, we help you understand hip arthritis and make you aware of anterior and posterior hip replacement surgery. Read on:

Hip Joint & Arthritis:

The hip joint is one of the largest ball and socket joints that is a foundational role in human anatomy and movement. It is formed by an acetabulum (socket) in the pelvis and femoral head (ball) of the thigh bone. These ball and sockets are lined with articular cartilage that aids in the smooth movement of the ball in the socket and the ligaments help keep the ball in the socket to provide stability resulting in all types of stable functional movements.

Osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, are the most common reasons for hip pain which can lead to pain, difficulty in walking and other movements, ultimately leading to hip disability. When all the conventional medical treatment procedures fail to provide adequate relief and restore mobility – a hip replacement procedure is recommended by joint replacement surgeons in Mumbai. And there are two types of hip replacement surgeries performed by joint replacement surgeons based on the approach they take to remove the damaged bone and replace it with a prosthetic.

Anterior vs Posterior Hip Replacement Surgery:

Posterior hip replacement surgery is when the incision is made at the back of the hip as the patient lays on his/her side during the surgical procedure. Posterior hip replacement surgery is the most common type of hip replacement surgery which is being performed all around the world for decades now.

As for the anterior hip replacement surgery, the incision is made on the anterior i.e. front side of the body. This method is a fairly new one when compared to the posterior approach. While the approaches are different the ultimate aim of both procedures is to disband the hip, shape the bone and replace the damaged hip joint with a prosthetic, perceived benefits can differ in both procedures.

  • For anterior hip replacement, the joint replacement surgeon can easily access the hip joint just by pushing the muscles aside and thus this procedure involves no or minimal cutting which means lesser damage of the muscle tissue.
  • As for a posterior hip replacement, the orthopaedic surgeon in Mumbai has cut through the muscles and soft tissue through the backside of the hip.
  • The anterior approach to hip replacement is challenging to the surgeon due to the limited view of the joint. The posterior approach provides though require the cut through the muscles to provide a better view and is easily performed by joint replacement surgeons.

While surgical equipment needed, recovery and risk of post-operative complications are the same for both procedures, anterior hip replacement surgery needs more expertise and experience given its technical difficulty.

However, Dr Niraj Vora is one of the best orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeons in Mumbai with a remarkable track record in hip replacement surgeries, both anterior and posterior. If you are looking for a hip replacement surgeon in Mumbai, you can contact mail him here: NLV@drnirajvora.co.in