Outpatient Direct Anterior Hip Replacement

Dr. Redmond is fellowship trained in outpatient total hip replacement. Over the past five years he has developed a minimally invasive method of performing direct anterior hip replacement that minimizes soft tissue trauma. In 2017 specialized retractors and reamers were developed to be even less invasive. As a result Dr. Redmond’s patients enjoy a reduced recovery time and less pain around the time of surgery. This allows most patients the ability to go home the same day of surgery.

Dr. Redmond performs direct anterior hip replacement without dislocating the hip, without cutting muscles or tendons, and repairs the joint capsule at the end of the case. The procedure starts by making a 3-4 inch incision over that side of the hip. The joint capsule is opened and persevered. Without dislocating the hip the femoral head is removed. Reamers are then used to prepare the acetabulum and a specialized titanium implant is placed. This implant allows for bone to grow on to the metal. A highly cross-linked polyethylene liner is then placed inside the metal implant. This entire process is performed using fluoroscopy or robotic assistance to ensure the implant is precisely placed.

Using a specialized table designed for direct anterior hip replacement, the femur is then rotated and prepared for a femoral implant. Dr. Redmond takes intra-operative x-rays or robotic navigation of the hip to ensure the patient’s leg length is correct and the implant is in good position. The real hip replacement parts are then installed and checked for range of motion. Once the hip replacement is perfected the hip is irrigated with antibiotic fluid and soaked in a special solution for 3 minutes to prevent infection. This has allowed Dr. Redmond to have an infection rate of less than one in a thousand in primary joint replacement!

One of the keys to outpatient joint replacement is pain control. Dr. Redmond performs an intra-operative pain block on all hip and knee replacements. This block eliminates pain for the first 24-48 hours and typically does not cause any muscle weakness. The entire surgery takes just over an hour. After surgery patients walk without restrictions and are ready to sleep in their own bed!