Anterior Hip Replacement Specialists
Expert Anterior Hip Replacement in Indiana
If your hip pain is severe and disabling, and nothing is making you feel better, hip replacement surgery could offer you relief. The advent of newer, less invasive surgical approaches has allowed the surgeons at Midwest Center for Joint Replacement to perform anterior hip replacement procedures with considerably less pain and debilitation. Because our team uses modern anesthesia techniques and a multi-model approach to pain control, total hip replacements can be performed safely as an outpatient procedure.
Anterior Hip Replacement FAQ
When should I consider hip replacement?
Hip replacement (also known as hip arthroplasty) is an option worth considering if you have severe hip pain and disability, or if other treatments aren’t helping.
This kind of pain and loss of function can be due to joint trauma or conditions like osteonecrosis (bone death). However, the most common cause of chronic hip pain is osteoarthritis, which develops as the protective coating of cartilage around your bones wears away.
We may recommend that patients with mild osteoarthritis begin their treatment program with nonsurgical therapies.
These could include:
- Rest
- Activity modification
- Ice packs
- Medication
- Physical therapy
While many patients find these treatments effective in controlling and alleviating hip pain, they don’t work for everyone. That is when you might need to discuss total hip replacement surgery with your surgeon.
What happens when I have total hip replacement surgery?
During your hip replacement surgery, your surgeon replaces the damaged ends of your hip bones, both in the femur and pelvis, with a ball-and-socket implant. There’s a ball on a stem to replace the ball-shaped top of your femur. The stem fits into the hollow center of your femur and holds the ball in place.
We use bone cement or screws to attach the replacement socket (acetabulum) into your pelvis. Between the ball and the socket, your surgeon inserts a spacer to prevent friction between the new parts.
In the traditional approach to hip replacement, your surgeon enters through the side or back of the hip and cuts through the muscles to get to the hip bones.
In the anterior approach to hip replacement, your surgeon enters the hip through the front instead of the side or back. This approach causes less pain and a faster recovery because it:
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Spares Muscles
The anterior approach accesses the hip by passing around or between muscle groups, instead of splitting muscles or releasing muscle attachments.
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Lowers Dislocation Risk
Going through the front instead of the side or back of the hip also decreases dislocation risks compared with other hip replacement approaches.
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Allows X-rays During Surgery
Because surgeons can use imaging during the procedure, the anterior alternative helps them get a more accurate assessment of matching leg lengths and optimizing implant position. Drs. Lackey, Carter and Penrose perform the anterior approach.
With modern techniques and implants, the traditional and anterior approaches can be performed as outpatient procedures.
Life After Anterior Hip Replacement
Ambre developed severe groin pain after gardening that eventually left her using a walker and wheelchair. After being told elsewhere that hip surgery wasn’t an option unless she lost weight, she turned to Midwest Center for Joint Replacement. Following hip replacement surgery, Ambre regained her mobility, became pain-free, lost 168 pounds without weight loss medication, and is now active again — traveling to watch her grandsons wrestle and enjoying boating and tubing.
Ready to take the next step?
We want to help you find relief from your hip pain. Call 317-455-1064 to book an appointment with us.
Follow the Patient Journey to Understand More About Our Process
Whether you’re dealing with arthritis, considering joint replacement for the first time, or in need of a complex revision surgery, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. We combine advanced surgical techniques with a deep commitment to reverence, innovation, compassion, and access to care, so your experience is as seamless as your recovery.
Should you need surgery, you can rest assured that you will receive world-class care, either at our specialized outpatient surgery center or at one of Indiana’s top orthopedic hospitals.