Methodist Healthcare
January 13, 2010

Direct Anterior Approach Hip Replacement Surgery Now Available at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital

More than 168,000 people undergo total hip replacements in the United States each year.

The direct anterior approach is an alternative to traditional hip replacement surgery that allows the surgeon to work between the muscles and tissues without detaching them. Because of this, patients typically experience less pain, a faster recovery and improved mobility. A significant advancement in total hip replacement surgery, the anterior approach is now available at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital.

Adam Harris, M.D., orthopedic surgeon, was one of the first surgeons in the San Antonio area to perform the technique and has performed more procedures than anyone else in the area. “A great deal of what we do both to become surgeons and to care for our patients requires that we and they have an extended capacity for delayed gratification. All great goals seem to be achieved only through some preliminary suffering.” said Dr. Harris. “This is not the case for these patients. Mastering these techniques is challenging. But for the patient, there is almost no delayed gratification. The rapidity with which these patients achieve pain relief and return to normal function is truly amazing. Participating in this program has been the single most rewarding endeavor in which I’ve been involved within the realm of orthopedic surgery.”

The anterior approach allows the surgeon to reach the hip joint with a small incision from the front of the hip as opposed to the lateral (side) or posterior (back) approach. This way, the hip can be replaced without detaching muscle from the pelvis or femur. The surgeon, with the patient lying on his back on a special surgical table, simply works through the natural interval between the muscles.

With traditional hip replacement surgery, most patients must limit hip motion, avoiding bending and crossing their legs or pointing their toes for at least four weeks or maybe for the rest of their lives. With the anterior approach, patients can immediately bend their hip freely and bear full weight, resulting in a more rapid return to normal hip function and greatly reduced rehabilitation time.

Since the technique involves one relatively small incision, the likelihood of scarring is reduced. Also, since the key muscles and tissues are not disturbed during the operation, there is greater potential for stability of the implant sooner after surgery.

STORY IDEA
Josephine Dallair, 54, was experiencing serious pain when she walked, sat or slept. “When I got up, I had to stand three or four minutes to allow the pain to go away,” she said. “I was a walker, but with the pain I could not walk, and I began putting on weight.” When she drove for long periods, her groin area ached and she felt that her body was not in alignment. At first, she thought it was her back, but her doctor told her that her right hip was deteriorating. Her mother had recently had a hip replaced and was convalescing slowly. When her doctor referred her to Dr. Harris, Dallair researched the anterior approach procedure that Dr. Harris recommended.

“I am so happy that I had the procedure done,” she said. “I had the procedure on Monday. I was out of the hospital on Wednesday and off my pain medications by Friday.” Dallair’s mother had her surgery, using the traditional method in August, and was still on her walker when Dallair had her surgery in October. Two weeks after surgery, Dallair was walking.

With advance notice Dr. Harris and Dallair are available for interviews. We also have animation of the procedure that we can e-mail to media.