Anterior Hip Replacement a Safer, More Natural Option, According to Leading Orth opedic Surgeons at Arizona Orthopaedic Associate

Anterior hip replacements are much safer alternatives to the traditional posteri or hip replacements, according to Arizonas leading group of orthopedic surgeons, Arizona Orthopaedic Associates at Gateway. Phoenix, AZ, US, September 25, 2012 -- Anterior hip replacements are much safer alternatives to the traditional posterior hip replacements, according to Arizonas leading group of orthopedic surgeons, Arizona Orthopaedic Associates at Gateway . The Phoenix orthopedic group introduced the anterior hip approach to Arizona and has completed more than 1,200 such surgeries in recent years. The groups experti se at the procedure has been featured in The New York Times as well as many othe r leading publications. Given the fact that hip replacements in America have alm ost doubled over the past 10 years, the group believes that the anterior hip rep lacement approach is not only here to stay, but will also become the preferred p rocedure. The anterior hip replacement performed by Arizona Orthopaedic Associates utilize s a special $100,000, OSI-Pro-FX, or HANA, table that enables AOA physicians to replace the hip through a single 4- to 5-inch incision, without detaching or cut ting muscles. The OSI-Pro-FX, or HANA, table allows for a positioning option not possible with conventional tables and intraoperative x-ray ensures precise plac ement of the hip. The result is reduced pain, less muscle trauma, a lower risk o f dislocation and a shorter hospital stay. It can also cut recovery times by up to three months. Misconceptions still abound regarding the procedure, as well as several myths. A rizona Orthopaedic Associates surgeon Dr. David Ott said this is common with new procedures. Theres a learning curve with any new procedure, Dr. Ott said. That does nt mean the surgery is inherently more dangerous, it just means some doctors are behind the curve. In fact, most medical advances occur this way. Often what was once a new innovation and thought to be risky or dangerous because it challenged the traditional technique, is now the standard of care. Blood loss Dr. Ott said the anterior approach rarely requires a transfusion, so much so tha t AOA surgeons have discontinued recommending patients to donate blood for such surgeries because they found it unnecessary. The anterior approach uses a state-of-the-art operating table and intraoperative x-ray, which helps the Phoenix-based orthopedic surgeons group have patients wa lking the same day as surgery and returning to full mobility within 2-8 weeks, i nstead of the typical 2-4 months needed after traditional surgery. Since no musc le is cut during the replacement procedure, a patients recovery time is significa ntly shorter. Yet some people have heard incorrectly that there is a danger of s ignificant blood loss with the anterior approach. Phoenix resident Mike Hecomovich can attest to the shorter recovery time for the anterior hip replacement. Both of Hecomovichs hips have been replaced - one usin g the traditional posterior hip replacement approach and, most recently, with an anterior hip replacement performed by Dr. Ott. The difference between the two is night and day, Hecomovich said. The new approach is far superior to the old appro ach. I could have left the day after the anterior procedure. It was that much be tter. Risk of major artery injury Dr. Ott said still others believe there is an inherent danger in performing an a

nterior hip replacement; that major blood vessels can be damaged, leading to sig nificant artery injury. Some people ask me if blood vessels can be nicked during the procedure, Dr. Ott said. Thats completely untrue. The major blood vessels are v ery distant in the anterior approach. Theres usually less blood loss than a tradi tional hip replacement. We rarely transfuse our anterior hip patients and have f or the most part eliminated self-donation of blood because it hasnt been needed." I know of no one who has had any major blood vessel injuries, Dr. Ott said. The fem oral arteries are very distant and nowhere near the field of surgery. The femora l nerve is closer during the anterior approach but its not nearly as close as the sciatic in the traditional posterior approach. Dislocation Still others have been told by their physicians that the risk of dislocation is as great, if not greater, with the anterior approach. The opposite is actually t rue. In fact, the orthopedic surgeons at AOA have experienced lower dislocation rates with the anterior approach. Since no muscles are cut during the procedure, there are fewer muscles to rehabilitate following the procedure. The inherent st ability of the procedure has removed the need for hip precautions after the surger y, Dr. Ott said. This means no restriction in your leg position, no limits on bend ing and no wedge between your legs for six weeks. The OSI-Pro-FX, or HANA, table allows AOA surgeons to simply work through the na tural interval between the muscles, leaving the most important muscles for hip f unction - the gluteal muscles that attach to the pelvis and femur - undisturbed, providing patients with the least invasive (and muscle sparing) procedure avail able and faster recovery time. When I got out of bed for the first time after the anterior hip replacement, I wa s shocked at the difference, said Hecomovich, an avid golfer. With the posterior h ip replacement, I was very tentative on my feet, worried about a dislocation. Af ter the anterior hip replacement, I was chipping and putting golf balls within t wo weeks. Safe joint replacement The recall of DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.s ASR XL Acetabular metal-on-metal hip repl acement system made headlines in 2010. The failure rate of the joint was deemed high and DePuy recalled the product. Two years later, many patients still ask if hip replacements are safe. Its important to understand that this particular joint was the problem, not the hip replacement surgery itself, Dr. Ott said. Were the le ading provider of anterior hip replacements in Arizona. We introduced the techni que and we use different joints than the ASR XL Acetabular metal-on-metal joint. Patients can rest assured that a hip replacement any type of hip replacement pe rformed by AOA surgeons is safe. Still, surgeons not familiar with the procedure are sometimes hesitant to recomm end it, Dr. Ott said. That hesitancy, he said, comes more from a fear of the unk nown than any hard scientific data. The anterior approach is a relatively new te chnique, learned after residency training and because of that, some doctors caut ion against it. The biggest danger with the anterior approach is that, for those who are not familiar with the technique, they can become lost, Dr. Ott said. For d octors who are familiar with the technique, its a remarkable procedure and a very needed improvement on one of modern medicines best operations. For more information, please call (602) 631-3161 or visit www.aoa.md. ABOUT ARIZONA ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATES AT GATEWAY Arizona Orthopaedic Associates at Gateway is committed to excellence by pledging to provide the highest quality of orthopedic care possible. Along with the trea tment of immediate or chronic problems, top-rated and board-certified orthopedic

surgeons strive to integrate the doctrine of prevention in all treatment plans as a way to alleviate possible future difficulties. Contact : Al Stevens Arizona Orthopaedic Associates at Gateway 690 N. Cofco Center Ct Suite 290 Phoenix, AZ 85008 480-235-1770 al@stevenspr.com http://www.aoa.md