Anterior hip replacement surgery at Oaklawn helps patients heal faster

In the past year, Oaklawn Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Paul Aschmetat has been performing anterior hip replacement surgeries which allows the patient to experience less postoperative pain and less healing time.

This surgery accesses the hip joint from the front of the leg instead of the back of the hip. The approach chosen is based on a few factors, but this approach allows the surgeon to reach the joint by separating muscles rather than splitting them.

“In terms of this surgery, it’s a standard hip replacement just through a different approach,” said Dr. Aschmetat. “It’s for patients with arthritis, avascular necrosis, some fractures. Traditionally, this was done through either posterior or a lateral approach. To do that you have to cut some of the muscles which means you have additional pain from that, and typically some additional restrictions with range of motion after the surgery.

“By doing these anterior, it’s more of a muscle-sparing approach, so you’re moving things out of the way, but you’re not taking down any muscle. So, there’s less healing time, typically less pain involved and not as many postoperative restrictions. Patients seem to do better and heal faster with this approach.” 

Dr. Aschmetat, a surgeon for eight years, explains how the anterior approach is better for patients.

“Usually, the standard recovery time is about three months after a total hip replacement and  usually about six weeks of post-op restrictions with your range of motion,” he said. “Typically, there is quite a bit of physical therapy involved to get all your strength back afterwards. With the anterior approach, the healing time is still going to be around three months just based on the fact that the components still need to heal into the bone. But because there’s no muscles that are actually being cut, the pain is less and a lot of patients can get through this without even having to go through much, if any, physical therapy.”

Dr. Aschmetat said he completed courses and cadaver labs last year to become certified in the anterior procedure.

“Eight years ago, when I was finishing up my training (to become a surgeon), there weren’t a whole lot of people doing this approach,” he said. “It’s becoming more and more common… around 50% are now being done through this approach, and a lot of them are being done as outpatient.” 

Dr. Aschmetat said patients benefit from this approach.

“We’re able to utilize fluoroscopy during the surgery, so it’s a live x-ray machine which helps with getting the implant placement just right, which in theory is going to help with a long-term properties of the components, not just to help you out in the short term,” he said. “There’s a lower dislocation risk with this approach. Traditionally, it’s been 1 to 2% of all total hips will end up dislocating – it’s even lower with this, and the incision is smaller.”

Patients can make an appointment by calling Oaklawn Orthopedics at 269-789-4380. Dr. Aschmetat sees patients for consultations in Marshall, Coldwater and Battle Creek.