The event included an informational discussion on the anterior approach to hip replacement, a new method that is less invasion than traditional methods. With more than 700 million people affected by arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, which tends to damage hip joints, its becoming an increasingly popular surgery, according to Atrium officials.
“I run a farm and I am throwing the hay and working hard every day,” Kristen said. “I need a new knee and hip. I just wanted to be able to get free advice on my questions without paying hundreds of dollars to ask the same ones in their office.”
Event presenters Scott True and Robert Roman, doctors who can perform the surgery at Atrium and West Chester Medical Center, fielded dozens of questions from the about 10 attendees. Chief among them was the timing of the surgery (which should be done when pain begins to affect your daily routine), recovery time (about three months) and differences between replacement mechanisms. Metal, plastic and ceramic joints can be used to repair deteriorating hips, depending on the patient’s level of activity and sensitivity, True said.
“With a frontal (anterior) approach, the incision is smaller and the surgery is done from the front of the hip rather than from the side. With the anterior approach, you do not have to cut through the muscles to get to the hip and there is less tissue damage,” True said.
It’s the type of information Janet and Terry Martin of Hamilton said they have been waiting years for.
Janet’s hip pain as escalated to the point where she cannot put on her own socks or easily get into or out of the car. She said she has been afraid to look at surgery before because of the long recovery time due to muscle damage from the surgery.
“I hope this will be it,” she said. “It seems to be better since they aren’t cutting into so many muscles.”
With only a few doctors in southwest Ohio trained to perform anterior hip replacements, patients travel from Dayton, Cincinnati and farther to have it done, increasing True and Roman’s practice by one third in two years, the doctors said.
With more than 200 successful surgeries under their belts, True said in terms of the surgery, “I think this is the best. I don’t think there is any doubt. I don’t know why everyone isn’t doing it.”
For more information, www.hipreplacement.com or aaos.org.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
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