Less invasive hip joint replacement is a step forward in hip replacement, providing a number of potential benefits. Among the benefits include a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and reduced scarring.
As you review the information on this website, make a note of anything you do not understand. Your orthopedic surgeon will be happy to answer your questions so that you’ll feel comfortable and confident with your treatment plan.
Hip replacement is a surgical procedure that has been performed in the United States since the 1960s. During the procedure diseased or damaged joint tissue is replaced with an artificial joint called a prosthesis. Made of metal alloys and high-grade plastics (which are intended to mimic the function of bone and cartilage) the prosthesis is designed to move as a healthy human joint.
Over the years, hip replacement techniques and instrumentation have undergone countless improvements. Today, hip replacement is one of the safest and most successful types of major surgery. Well over 90% of hip replacement cases are complication-free, resulting in significant pain relief and restoration of mobility.
Less Invasive Hip Joint Replacement is an advancement in hip replacement, which offers potential important advantages over standard surgical procedures. Stryker has partnered with surgeons worldwide to develop procedures and surgical instruments that will help restore range of motion and recover your lifestyle. These techniques bring together a wide variety of high quality hip implants, new minimally invasive surgical techniques, and new instrumentation.
Over the past 25 years, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has revolutionized many fields of medicine. Its key characteristic is that it uses specialized techniques and instrumentation that enable physicians to perform major surgery without a large incision. In this respect, MIS Hip Joint Replacement is indeed “minimally invasive,” requiring smaller incisions and potentially causing less trauma to the soft tissues than traditional techniques.
An MIS hip replacement procedure replaces the joint with a prosthesis, requiring an incision that is only four to five inches long. The procedure does not disturb as many muscles and tendons in the hip area as the classic total hip procedure. This allows for a potentially more natural reconstruction after the prosthesis is in place and a more rapid return to normal function and activity.
The smaller incision and reduced disruption to surrounding soft tissue indicates that patients may have a shorter recovery time and less scarring. With MIS hip replacement, there may be less blood loss, less time in surgery and possibly a shorter hospital stay as well.
“The sooner you get it done the better you´ll feel and the more your life will change.”
– Carl Savino, 52
Hip Replacement Recipient
(Read more patient testimonials)
Less Invasive Hip Joint Replacement is less invasive than conventional hip replacement, but it is still a major surgery. It takes little additional time to complete and may result in advantages for the patient.
As with any major surgical procedure, patients who undergo total joint replacement are at risk for certain complications, the vast majority of which can be successfully avoided or treated. In fact, the complication rate following joint replacement surgery is very low. Serious complications, such as joint infection, occur in less than two percent of patients. 4 Besides infection, other possible complications include blood clots, lung congestion or pneumonia. The risks that are normally encountered in conventional hip joint replacement remain.
You don´t have to live with severe hip pain and the limitations it puts on your activities. If you haven´t experienced adequate relief with medication or other conservative treatments, MIS Hip Joint Replacement may provide relief from pain and enable you to return to your favorite activities.
Read more about Hip Replacement Procedures.
Read more about Revision Hip Replacement.
Read more about joint replacement parts and materials.