Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting one in six Americans. If you suffer from chronic pain due to arthritis or trauma-related conditions, a hip replacement may be right for you.

You may benefit from a hip replacement if:

• You have severe arthritis of the hip on your X-rays
• You have severe hip pain that prevents you from doing the activities that you enjoy
• You have failed nonoperative management that has included medications, occasional injections, physical therapy or walking aids

What is minimally invasive total hip replacement?

Example of hip replacement prosthesis

The hip is the largest weight-bearing joint in the body. It is a ball and socket joint. The ball lies at the top of the thigh bone (femur) that fits into a rounded socket (acetabulum) in the pelvis. The thick joint capsule and surrounding muscles help hold the ball in the socket to provide stability to the hip joint. The ball and socket are each are covered with a smooth surface called cartilage, which provides cushion to the bones and allows them to move smoothly. This cartilage can wear away with time or become injured due to disease or trama, resulting in pain, swelling and subsequent muscle weakness — causing reduced function.

Minimally invasive total hip replacement is a surgical procedure that removes worn surfaces of the hip and replaces them with a metal prosthesis through an incision usually smaller than five inches. The components are usually press-fitted into the bone and secured with screws.

The hip replacement procedures are usually conducted under spinal anesthesia. Patients are routinely able to stand and walk with the physical therapist within hours of surgery. The majority of our patients stay in the hospital one night and go home the next day. Surgical soreness and swelling may take a few weeks to subside; however, within several weeks you should be able to return to normal activities which includes driving.

Smaller incision, less discomfort. Minimally invasive total hip replacement requires a markedly smaller incision than a typical hip replacement operation. The deeper dissection is markedly smaller as well. We have found that patients recover with significantly less discomfort than with the standard operation. Total hip replacement eliminates all the pain that comes from an arthritic hip and significantly improves function. However, the decision to have a hip replacement should be made between you and your orthopedic surgeon after a thorough orthopedic examination has been completed.

Our award-winning program

The Joint Replacement Program at Cabell Huntington Hospital was established to help relieve your pain, increase your mobility and improve your quality of life. From initial consultation to surgery to recovery and rehabilitation, every step of this comprehensive program has been streamlined to make the process as smooth and easy for patients as possible. As a result, the Joint Replacement Program:

• consistently earns high patient satisfaction scores
• is the only hospital in West Virginia and the Tri-State region to be named to America’s 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades.
• has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement. CHH is the only hospital in the Tri-State region to obtain this designation.
• has earned continuous national recognition from Healthgrades.