Revolutionary Hip Surgery: 250 of New, Less-Invasive Procedure

A little more than two years ago, Thomas Otto, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon and professor in the department of orthopaedic surgery at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, learned of a new hip replacement technique. At first, he was skeptical. After all, orthopedic surgeons had been more than successful with the tried-and-true traditional hip replacement procedure.

But Dr. Otto learned that the new minimally invasive technique required only two small incisions, and patients would be able to get back to their lives faster than with traditional hip replacement. Armed with that information, he decided to undergo training from Zimmer Inc., who patented the two-incision hip surgery technique last year.

Dr. Otto has now completed more than 250 of these surgeries, making him a regional and national leader.

“The good side is that it’s a great operation and the patients are very happy with the results because of the rapid recuperation time,” he says. “However, it’s technically very difficult to learn and takes about an hour longer than normal hip surgery, which can be a deterrent to surgeons who are considering learning it.”

Approximately 30 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, which causes deterioration of the cartilage in the hip joint, eventually causing bone to rub against bone. Many people with osteoarthritis choose to undergo traditional joint replacement surgery, an invasive procedure that can have a long recovery time.

The minimally invasive technique involves image guidance so surgeons can visualize the entire femur and pelvic bone while they are operating. Two incisions – one about two inches (about the size of a house key) along the front part of the hip and one three-quarters of an inch (paperclip-sized) on the back – are made, and surgeons gently pull the muscles, ligaments and tendons apart to reach the joint area and replace the bone with an implant. No muscle or tissue is cut, and scarring is minimal, unlike in traditional hip replacements, where a 10- to 12-inch incision is made and several layers of tissue are cut.

In addition to the complicated nature of the surgery, Dr. Otto attributes a resistance to change to why many orthopaedic surgeons continue to perform traditional hip replacement surgeries. However, he says improving patient care has been his motivation for perfecting the minimally invasive surgery.

“This two-incision technique is ideal for transplant patients and anyone else who we are concerned with getting an infection after surgery,” Dr. Otto says. “With 75 to 80 percent of patients being able to go home within 48 hours, it’s certainly an improvement over traditional hip replacement surgery.”

About The Author:

Thomas Otto is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.hip-replacement-care.com. Information on hip replacement; the cause, diagnosis, symptoms, surgery and treatment for recovery and rebuilding your body.