Baxter Regional Bone & Joint Clinic

Direct Anterior Approach Hip Replacement

To learn more about this procedure, watch the video.

 Win Moore Video

Visit our patient testimonial pages to learn how our patients' lives have been improved with replacement surgery. 

This surgery replaces diseased and damaged portions of the hip with implants designed to restore function to the hip joint. Dr. Moore uses an incision on the anterolateral part of the hip, instead of a more traditional incision on the side or back of the joint. The anterior incision allows the surgeon to work between the major muscles of the hip instead of cutting through them or detaching them from the hip or femur. By preserving muscle tissue, the anterior approach may minimize recovery time.

The direct anterior approach is performed on a Hana® orthopaedic table, which serves to improve access and achieve alignment and positioning of the implants. While training to use the direct anterior approach on the Hana table, Dr. Moore performed surgery with Dr. Joel Matta, designer of the Hana table and an orthopaedic surgeon in Los Angeles who specializes in Hip and Pelvic Reconstruction.

 Hana table

 Potential benefits of the Direct Anterior Approach include:

  • Accelerated recovery time because key muscles are not detached during the operation.
  • Fewer restrictions during recovery. Although each patient responds differently, this procedure seeks to help patients more freely bend their hip and bear their full weight immediately or soon after surgery.
  • Reduced scarring because the technique allows for one relatively small incision. Since the incision is on the front side of the leg, you may be spared from the pain of sitting on scar tissue.
  • Stability of the implant sooner after surgery, resulting in part from the fact that the key muscles and tissues are not disturbed during the operation.
  • The Anterior Approach requires less tissue disruption, which may lead to faster rehabilitation.

Find out more about Anterior Approach to Hip Replacement Surgery