While research is limited many studies seem to suggest that the risk of damage to the major nerves near the hip in particular the sciatic nerve is lower with the anterior approach than with the traditional approaches.
Anterior versus posterior hip replacement surgery.
Posterior hip replacement surgery uses a curved incision on the side and back of the hip.
But as time goes on anterior and posterior hip replacement patients both do very well.
If you have had a relative who got a hip replacement several years ago chances are it was a posterior surgery.
The average hip replacement lasts 20 30 years or more.
There is renewed interest in the news and medical world lately regarding surgical approaches to hip replacement specifically anterior through the front of the hip versus posterior through the back of the hip methods.
A patient considering anterior hip replacement surgery.
During this traditional approach the orthopedic surgeon makes an 8 10 inch while you lie on your side.
Anterior hip replacement surgery uses an incision at the front of the hip.
This is done by replacing the damaged or diseased bone with a metal or plastic implant which is designed to replicate a healthy hip joint.
In a posterior hip replacement the procedure is done on the side of the hip.
That should give you an idea of the recovery time involved.
The big difference in anterior vs posterior hip replacement is primarily where the incision is made and how long it is.
5 7 this is because the sciatic nerve runs behind the hip joint so it is not exposed when using the anterior approach.
Salyapongse touches on later recovery sharing that some studies show that even at 6 weeks anterior hip surgery patients are still doing better than the posterior hip patients.
Less commonly the incision is made horizontally.