Less Invasive Hip Surgery

Patients suffering from chronic hip pain or trauma may be surprised to learn that total hip replacement is no longer the ordeal it once was.  A new procedure available at Virginia Hospital Center is considerably less invasive, making recovery from prosthetic implantation easier and faster.  Surgery that once required a 10 to 14 inch incision can now be completed with a small incision of just 2.5 to 3.5 inches.  As a result, there is less disruption to the soft tissues of the hip (tendons, ligaments and muscles), reduced blood loss and considerably less pain during recovery.  Scarring is minimal and patients are back on their feet sooner.

"We find that patients are more comfortable and return to their regular routines faster following this surgery," notes David Romness, MD, Vice Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Medical Director of the Joint Replacement Unit at Virginia Hospital Center.  With this minimally invasive approach, some patients go home in just three days.

Prosthetic hip implants are often prescribed for arthritis patients who are not responding to non-operative treatment.  Preexisting conditions such diabetes, cardiac disease, kidney disease and obesity may preclude patients from receiving this procedure.