General Health Pindara Offers New Hip Replacement Technique Improvements in the quality of prosthesis and surgical techniques mean that patients receiving hip replacements are getting younger - the average age for this operation is now patients aged in their mid to late 60s. A new minimally invasive technique is the anterior minimally invasive surgery (AMIS) - a new form of hip replacement surgery for total hip replacement. The operation is very different to the traditional posterior or lateral methods of hip replacement and offers patients a more rapid recovery. Typically, the procedure requires that the surgeon make an incision of less than 10cm through from the front of the leg. The surgeon works between the muscles to access the hip rather than cutting through and detaching muscle. The small incision reduces the risk of infection and keeping the muscles intact results in less pain, less blood loss and creates better hip stability and strength for the patient. The benefits to the patient include being able to return to functional activities much quicker. They are able to lie on the operated side from day one post-surgery; low seats and sitting cross-legged are no longer restricted; and the patient can usually go home three to five days afterwards. The anterior approach technique has been used in Europe for decades but has only been available in Australia for the last two years. Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show the number of hip replacements carried out increased by 40% between 2000-01 and 2007-08. In 2009, there were 33,943 hip replacements reported to the National Joint Replacement Registry. This was an increase of 3.4% on the number in 2008. The number of hip replacements has increased because of the rising number of people suffering from osteoarthritis, which is a type of arthritis. Arthritis can be genetic or caused by injury or obesity. Currently, three million Australians have arthritis: 1.6 million of them have osteoarthritis. Arthritis Australia believes the number of sufferers will keep growing due to increasing obesity and the aging population. By 2050, an estimated seven million Australians will be affected. Men have a hip replacement on average five years younger than women do. Surgeons can now perform hip replacements on younger patients because the replacements will last as long as 30 years, and with life expectancy at around 80, if a 50 year old has their hip replaced it will last for their lifetime. pm Pindara Magazine 30 Autumn - Winter | 2014
Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Two
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