Anterior Hip Replacement
The anterior approach accesses the hip joint from the front, working through a natural interval between muscles rather than detaching the short external rotators and posterior soft tissues.
The attraction of the anterior approach is not simply a smaller incision. For the right patient, it is an anatomical way of accessing a stiff arthritic hip, releasing the tight front of the joint, restoring extension, and allowing early movement without the same posterior soft-tissue concerns.
In appropriately selected patients, the anterior approach may:
- Allow early walking with fewer traditional hip precautions
- Support a more natural early gait pattern
- Make it easier to restore extension in a hip that has become stiff and flexed from arthritis
- Reduce the feeling that the hip has been “cut through” at the back
- Help address the anterior capsular tightness and flexion contracture commonly associated with advanced hip osteoarthritis
Many patients are surprised after surgery by how much movement they had gradually lost before the operation.
The anterior approach is not suitable for every patient. Factors such as body habitus, muscularity, deformity, previous surgery, anatomy, and complexity all influence whether this is the most appropriate technique.
The goal is not simply to perform a particular approach, but to select the operation most likely to provide reliable, durable long-term function.
Is anterior hip replacement better?
There is no single “best” approach for every patient. Both anterior and posterior hip replacement are excellent operations when used appropriately. The most important factors are careful planning, implant positioning, soft tissue balance, restoring movement, and selecting the right approach for the individual patient.
How quickly do patients go home after anterior hip replacement?
The aim is to mobilise patients early and allow discharge as soon as safely appropriate. Many patients are now comfortable walking on the day of surgery and are frequently ready for discharge the following day, depending on overall mobility, medical factors, confidence, and support at home.