Does Approach Matter for Hip Replacement?
In the past few years, there has been a debate among physicians and patients regarding the “optimal” approach for hip replacement. If fact, considerable marketing has been deployed to attract patients to a surgical approach, citing rapid recovery, minimal or no pain, muscle-sparing exposure, and return to unrestricted activity. The frank reality is that these outcomes are possible with almost any of the common approaches today. The American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), which is the largest collection of fellowship-trained specialists in total joint replacement, has concluded that “the best approach is the one your doctor is most comfortable with to allow safe and precise implantation of your hip replacement components.” As a patient, you should choose the surgeon and trust on their decision regarding the approach.
Surgical Hip Approaches https://musculoskeletalkey.com/the-hip-5/
I personally prefer the direct anterior approach for most of my primary hip replacement procedures. In certain circumstances, I will also utilize a direct lateral or posterior approach, but I plan for each and every case on an individual basis based on specific patient characteristics. There are benefits and disadvantages to every approach, and despite what marketing campaigns have proposed, no approach is infallible.