Bilateral THR anterior or posterior

[ijane]

Following quite a few positive comments on the forum here regarding better recovery using 'anterior' hip replacement surgery, I saw Sarah Muirhead-Allwood about a bilateral hip op for me this morning, and she told me that she had reverted to 'posterior' as she had seen no recovery advantage in her patients. Would you please comment?

 

[Lindawalms]

I've had both and liked the anterior better...
xoxo,
linda.

 

[Z15]

I had the Supercap Posterior method and was stunned (in a great way) at my recovery. I had this technique in Boston: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxZTSmRP42w

But I think Linda having had one of each (good thing there isn't a third approach to compare) is a pretty great input.

Z

 

[alexthecat]

Sarah Muirhead-Allwood is an excellent surgeon. If she says posterior is the way to go, I would take her word for that.

 

[ijane]

Definitely! Thanks so much. ijane

 

[rider1960]

What really makes the surgery successful is the skill of the surgeon doing it, no matter what approach they use. Personally, I'm the kind of person who likes the person cutting on me to be able to see what they are doing with their own eyes, rather than relying on imaging to check the placement of the prosthesis. But that's just me.

I had the posterior approach by an excellent surgeon and it went very well. He did replacements on two others that I know personally and their's went the same way as mine--smooth as it can go for being a major operation and recovery.

Personally, I would choose the best surgeon first regardless of the approach they use, rather than choosing the approach first and then trying to find a surgeon to fit into that as secondary. No matter which approach you have, you end up at the same place. You want a really good surgeon working on you.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Dorothy

 

[aa1pd]

its all about the surgeons skill. Mine did a Anteriolateral approach. I am at 4 weeks and spent the day driving my staff around and actually trimmed a couple of horse feet. Crazy fast recovery but its about the surgeons skill not the approach.

 

[Josephine]

Well, I'll tell you this about her, Jane. First, I used to work with her so I know her pretty well.

Second, she is so good that when she attends conferences, all the other hip surgeons call her "The Queen of Hips"! She is the best, most respected and most knowledgeable hip surgeon bar none - in the world! All the other hip surgeons from all over send their problems to her to be sorted out. She is that good. What she doesn't know about hip surgery isn't worth knowing and you are very, very lucky to have her as your surgeon.

So anterior, posterior or whatever, if she says it you can take it to the bank and in a year or so, draw out solid gold!

 

[ijane]

Well, I'll tell you this about her, Jane. First, I used to work with her so I know her pretty well.

Second, she is so good that when she attends conferences, all the other hip surgeons call her "The Queen of Hips"! She is the best, most respected and most knowledgeable hip surgeon bar none - in the world! All the other hip surgeons from all over send their problems to her to be sorted out. She is that good. What she doesn't know about hip surgery isn't worth knowing and you are very, very lucky to have her as your surgeon.

So anterior, posterior or whatever, if she says it you can take it to the bank and in a year or so, draw out solid gold!

She's a Goddess then. I am very grateful to you, thanks so much. I have booked myself in with her for July!

 

[gingko]

I am 4 1/2 months post- op from anterior (DAA). I had it done with the most experienced DAA surgeon in the US- Dr. Matta. It is nice having no restrictions at the beginning but my recovery is very slow. I'm still having pain and swelling. They did X-rays and my implant is perfectly placed and bloodwork shows I have no infection. I believe it is just inflammation. I don't think it is the fault of the procedure or surgeon. I am just a slow healer and I have a collagen defect called Ehler-Danlos hyper mobility type. The stretching of the muscles rather than the cutting sounds good but stretching can be traumatic too. Also most people do get the mild femoral cutaneous nerve damage which causes mild numbness. I don't really mind it but along with the pain it doesn't feel healthy. Also the anterior scar is in the front and therefore uglier than the side or posterior scar. The other good thing besides no restrictions at the beginning is that there seems to be no leg length discrepancy because they do the surgery when you're on your back and they do X-rays while you're still under to make sure placement is perfect.
The new super cap surgery sounds great but it's still new.
Thanks,
Gingko

 

[Jaycey]

Sounds like you have already received some very good input. I hope you will stick with us here at BoneSmart. There are lots of members here who will help you through your journey.

 

[Lindawalms]

Good choice - although I do prefer the anterior - I would always choose the best surgeon over the position of the cut!!!
xoxo
Linda

 

[Z15]

Just a note for those who think the SuperCap is new...it was introduced in 2003:

https://www.stephenmurphy.org/hip/hminimally/MurphyetalCORR2006TPTHR.pdf

But the newer version of this is called SuperPATH which builds on teh advantages of SuperCap:

broken link removed: https://www.chowhipandknee.com/superpath-thr.html

Based on my research, SuperPATH appears to be more widely adopted.

Z