Reasons for not doing the anterior approach

I am considering this approach also because of the much shortened recovery time with few restrictions.  This approach requires excellent current skills of the surgeon, so of a doctor tells you it can't be done get another opinion.  I also understand it limits the type of implant that can be placed - not a significant issue generally - and there is a special table that is used, the Hana table, which makes it easy for the physician to operate and to get the leg lengths the same.  So you might ask your surgeon, or his surgery scheduling person if his hospital operating rooms have this special table.  Having worked in hospitals my whole career, I found it almost impossible to get an answer about whether or not their operating suites had a Hana table when I called around.

As I read on about this approach, atop are supposed to be up and around, with few restrictions, no crutches for weeks, only whatever cane or walker that you might be comfortable with.  The only physical therapy is the visit in the hospital so th can tell you what movements to be careful with.  The incision is anterior and under the elastic on underwear, a bikini incision.  Important to be because it's not anywhere I would lie on while sleeping and the posterior muscles aren't stretched or cut.  Less pain and healing of muscles if would suggest.

All of this is from reading, not my experience, so take it with the proverbial grain of salt.  If anyone has any other info, please share.  FYI I'm in the US on the east coast.

Hi there

From what information I know, I believe most people are candidates for the anterior approach. Body composition is what ultimately decides it if all other criteria is met. If a patient is to over weight or too muscly then for whatever reason it's safer to do a posterior approach.

I believe some surgeons take into consideration prior hip surgeries and this again can be a reason not to do the anterior approach. This wasn't the case with me though as I had had several hip ops (incisions in the front) on both hips but I was still able to have both replacements done anteriorly.

There may be other reasons, but I hope what I've told you helps in some way

Good luck to you

Good luck.

L

The hospital I go to is a designated center of excellence for Orthopedic surgery so I was surprised that anterior approaches were not more common .The surgeon basically said that you need to look at what your surgeon does most frequently.I think the anterior approach is definitely going to be more common as time goes on but it still is better to go with what's the strength by numbers of surgeries the surgeon has done with that surgery type .Study it well,see if you have risk factors that would increase risk with the different approaches .Be well😀