Ruth Scarabino’s Posterior and Anterior Approach THRs 2012/2016
…After suffering with pain for about 10 months, Scarabino, 68, had an artificial hip implanted on Oct. 21, 2012, using the posterior approach.
A second artificial-hip operation on her other hip was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dominic Peters on Feb. 8, 2016 using the anterior approach…
…With the anterior approach, there is a minimal incision located on the front of the hip. Using this technique, the surgeon moves muscles aside rather than cutting through them thereby creating less damage and trauma to the soft tissues around the hip and allowing for a quicker recovery time, Dr. Peters said…
…From a patient’s perspective, Scarabino said the anterior approach technique “is wonderful” in numerous ways.
“I had very little pain after surgery. The only thing I felt was some soreness when I walked on the leg, and I used pain medication only intermittently at night for a week or 10 days,” she said…
…there are no postoperative precautions with anterior hip approach. With the posterior approach, patients can’t cross their legs or bend over sideways or forward from six weeks to forever.