Hip replacement surgery removes your damaged hip joint that’s interfering with movement and quality of life and replaces it with prosthetic components. Dr. Duc Nguyen uses an anterior approach for total hip replacement, which often brings faster recovery and longer lasting results. If you’re a resident of Redwood City, California considering hip replacement surgery, consult Dr. Nguyen at his practice to see if this procedure is right for you. Call the office or use the online booking tool to make an appointment.

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Who is a candidate for hip replacement surgery?

Most patients who seek hip replacement have arthritis of the hip that’s causing serious dysfunction and pain. You may be a candidate if you have hip pain that:

  • Makes walking, going up stairs, or getting up and down from a seated position painful
  • Affects your sleep and is moderate to severe even when you’re resting
  • Causes you to limp or feel stiff in the hips
  • Can’t be relieved with non-surgical methods such as medication or walking support

What happens during a hip replacement?

Dr. Nguyen performs hip replacement surgery while you are under general anesthesia. After the staff has you prepped, he makes a 10- to 12-inch incision at the area of your hip to expose the bones of the hip joint. He then dislocates the joint so he can remove the head of the femur from its socket in the pelvis; the damaged bone is cut with a bone saw. He shapes the pelvic socket, or acetabulum, to receive the prosthetic joint. He fits the femur with the prosthetic and puts it back into place. He then stitches all tissue involved in the original incision, and you’re on your way to recovery.

What makes an anterior approach different than traditional surgeries?

Hip replacement surgery often involves a “back” or “side” approach. This means the doctor makes the incision at the side of the hip area or the back. With an anterior approach, Dr. Nguyen approaches the hip joint from the front. He makes an incision at the top of the pelvic bone that extends down toward the top of the thigh.

This is a more complicated procedure, that shows the promise of improved recovery and better long-term function. It involves no cutting of the major muscles and reduces the risk of hip dislocation. As a result, it usually results in less postoperative pain.

However, an anterior hip replacement requires much skill, training, and experience on the part of the surgeon. Estimates suggest that only 15 to 20% of the hip replacement surgeries performed in the United States use an anterior approach. Dr. Nguyen has the requisite experience and education that makes this approach his preferred way of performing hip replacement surgeries.