Hip Replacement

Don’t let hip pain hold you back

The hip joint is one of the body’s largest weight-bearing joints. It is a ball-and-socket joint. This helps the hip remain stable even during twisting and extreme ranges of motion. A healthy hip joint allows you to walk, squat, and turn without pain. But when a hip joint is damaged, it is likely to hurt when you move. In a problem hip, the worn cartilage no longer serves as a cushion. As the roughened bones rub together, they become irregular, with a surface like sandpaper. The ball grinds in the socket when you move your leg, causing pain and stiffness. 

Lear more in the video below about treatment for hip pain from orthopedic surgeon, Kenneth Edwards, MD:

Talk with an orthopedic surgeon to see if a hip replacement may be the right choice for you, call 269.684.6484 or click here to request more information. 

A humbling experience

Connie Harmacinski suffered from severe arthritis in the joint of her hip that left her in constant pain and eager for a solution. She met with orthopedic surgeon, Nicholas Loafman, DO, where they discussed all treatment options and together, they opted to start Connie with steroid injections. However, when the pain was not getting better within a few weeks Connie pursued a more long-lasting option. A few weeks later Connie was scheduled for hip replacement which would offer her the relief she was looking for. 

Minimally invasive total hip replacement

Total hip replacement is a type of surgery to replace a damaged hip joint. A minimally invasive total hip replacement uses a smaller incision than a traditional total hip replacement. It also uses special tools.
During minimally invasive total hip replacement, your surgeon makes an incision to access your hipbone and thighbone. Next, the surgeon removes the damaged area and replaces it with a smooth metal stem that attaches to the rest of the thighbone. Your surgeon also removes the damaged bone and cartilage within the socket of the hipbone, replacing it with a metal shell. Then the new femoral head can move inside the new smooth socket of the hipbone.

Anterior hip replacement

The direct anterior approach is a minimally invasive option that results in a smaller incision, less tissue trauma, and less pain for the patient. This approach utilizes a unique hip and knee arthroplasty surgical table, called the HANA table, which allows a surgeon to reach the hip joint from the front of the hip, as opposed to the side or back, so that work can be done through the natural interval between the muscles.