Minimally invasive hip replacement surgery is a new type of hip replacement surgery that is less stressful on the patient.
Minimally invasive surgery requires a smaller scar, which can be as small as 5cm, compared with the traditional hip replacement scar that is 20-30cm in length. Occasionally two small scars are needed. Division of muscles is not always necessary and when it is, it is less extensive than in traditional surgery. Surgeons can see what they are doing when they replace the joint by using special computer aided technology to see inside the body with cameras and the patient can stay awake during the procedure by having an epidural anaesthetic. This could be helpful for older patients who may not tolerate general anaesthetic very well.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement
• Lower risk of death after surgery.
• Less risk of anaesthetic awareness during surgery. With epidural a patient can alert surgeons if he or she is in pain.
• Less blood loss – most patients don’t require blood transfusion.
• Less muscle damage.
• A smaller scar that is cosmetically more appealing.
• Less pain after surgery due to smaller incision.
• The use of epidural also reduces post-operative pain because the pain relief can last for up to 20 hours after surgery.
• A faster recovery – a hospital stay of only one or two days is common after minimally invasive hip surgery, compared with around five days for traditional hip surgery. 91 percent of patients were able to stand up the day after surgery, compared with only 85 percent who had traditional surgery.
• Patients can walk without help a lot quicker, sometimes discontinuing walking aids as early as eight days afterwards.
• There is no significant difference in the performance of the artificial hip when a minimally invasive technique is done.
• There is no significant difference in rates of bone fracture and the need for "revisions" soon after surgery.
Disadvantages of Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement
• The technique is highly specialized and fewer surgeons are trained to do it.