what approach did your surgeon use?

I had the posterior approach and that is the only approach done here in Victoria, BC.  The surgeons here feel it is still the best.  Recovery might be a bit slower but that people end up the same at 3 months.  With the anterior approach, the surgeon doesn't get as good a look at the femur and there is a higher chance of fracturing the femur and some nerve damage too.  But you certainly hear of great success stories with both approaches.

Hello:

I had posterior done in Jan 2013, with no complications, and minimal pain.  I was back doing all my sporting activities in 3-4 months.

Last Monday 7/25, I had the other hip done, and so far no issues to speak of, I use a cane, but if I had to I can walk without it.

My surgeon did a great job the first time and I stuck with him !

I had no intention of changing types of surgery.  even though recovery is usually much quicker.

Good Luck 

Read up on that, because I've read the opposite.

 

Hi Kel. I had THR anterior approach last Wednesday. Doing pretty darn good other than swelling on surgical leg. Ice Ice Baby ????.., leg pumps, and rest are helping. Today it is much better! Good luck. PS. I was told posterior was harder to heal from, but from what I'm reading here, it looks like 6 of one. 1/2 dozen of the other ?

I had LTHR done 8 months ago. My surgeon did the posterior approach. Basically because he has been doing it that way for around 45 years. I was in the hospital for 3 days. My friend who had the anterior approach spent one night in the hospital. More cutting and perhaps more pain posterior but at around 6 weeks no difference. Get a good surgeon and go with his strength and recommendation. Still having a little start up pain but on temporarily and not that often

Maybe don't go with one who says the opposite of the truth. Mine told me he was going to do the anterior, and when I woke up he had done the old posterior lateral which he had been doing forever on everyone. That's the one where he forgot to sew the tendon back and I've been limping in pain for two years now.

I always  say that the approach doesn't matter nearly as much as a good outcome.

I had posterior, but sadly a bad outcome, so far two operations, and I will have to have another to correct the problems.  But at least I do not have that old OA pain any more.

Graham

Prostier approach , I sign a paper for any complication that could arise  nerve damage , death ect ... I ended up with femoral nerve damage . This is nasty ! And rare I am told with this approach . Just remember no one is exempt from complication from and approach or surgery .. I never in a Millon years thought this would happen .. I just want people to know anything can happen . Mine they said could of been from a clamp to tight , over stretching of the musscell for over a hour doing the surgery . The " spinal" as I have a bad back . The catheter they put in . Good luck 

I had the posterior 5 weeks ago and I'm doing great. Hardly any pain at all, and I'm walking without a cane easily, even though one leg is now longer than the other and I'm still trying to work out my limp.

A friend of mine had an anterior two weeks after I had my posterior. She immediately started walking(same day) and didn't have the restrictions of the 90 degree rule...this is a big deal. BUT she has had lots of pain, and has had numbness in her leg. So all in all I'd rather take the slower recovery than pain and nerve issues, so my other hip will also be a posterior with my same Doctor.