When dealing with persistent hip pain that interferes with day-to-day functioning like walking, performing daily activities or even sitting comfortably, surgery may become necessary. Now surgery for hip replacement isn’t the major procedure it used to be.

Cleveland Clinic Florida is one of few facilities offering patients a minimally invasive hip replacement surgery called “direct anterior.”

This approach enables the surgeon to insert the hip prosthesis through a small incision at the front of the hip, as opposed to the side or back where the surgeon has to cut through muscles and tendons. Further, Cleveland Clinic offers a higher-level of care when performing this procedure by using the latest advancements in direct anterior hip replacements. 

Expert surgeons utilize real-time x-ray fluoroscopy, which helps to implant the hip replacement component much more accurately thereby reducing complications that may result from misaligned implants.

Due to smaller incisions and less muscle trauma, patients recover faster with the direct anterior approach than with traditional hip replacement surgery. In some instances, patients are able to return to work and resume normal activities in as little as two weeks.

Patients also endure a much shorter hospital stay and report less pain, which reduces the need for pain medication. The use of assistive devices such as canes and walkers is also substantially reduced.

In contrast, the average recovery time with traditional hip replacement surgery is two to six months, making the direct anterior hip replacement surgery an appealing alternative.

Even before this surgery is considered, patients at Cleveland Clinic Florida first receive a full evaluation that includes a thorough medical history, physical examination, X-ray, and other imaging to evaluate the cause of the hip pain. In some cases, pain can be resolved with conservative treatments such as ice, physical therapy, rest, activity modification, pain relievers or injections.

Cleveland Clinic Orthopaedic surgeons are available for interview. They can discuss this innovative minimally invasive direct anterior surgery for hip replacements in more detail.