Results of 1000 Mini-Incision Hip Replacements

Dr. Swanson from the Desert Orthopaedic Center in Nevada has completed 1500 total hip replacements (THRs). He reports on the first 1000 operations.

All patients had a posterior, single-incision, minimally invasive (MI) operation. The MI method avoids cutting the muscles and soft tissues around the hip. New technology allows for smaller incisions and gentle pulling on the hip structures.

The author describes the surgery in detail. He reports results were satisfactory for 95 percent of the patients. Problems after the MI surgery weren't any more or less when compared with the standard method of operation.

A review of other studies along with this one concludes that MI THR has better early results than the operation with a full-incision. There's less bleeding, shorter operations, and fewer days in the hospital.

Most patients are able to get back to their normal activities about one month after the THR. Long-term results seem about the same between the two operative techniques.