When the degenerative process of thearthrosis reaches the hip and it reaches a point where it significantly limits the patient's life, causing intense pain and difficulty in movement, the only definitive solution to the problem is protesi, che oggi può essere eseguita con una tecnica mininvasiva per l’anca.

Thanks to an orthopedic surgery, the joint damaged by the arthritic process is replaced with an artificial prosthesis that will allow the patient to move again. After the surgery, not only does the patient recover complete mobility, but he or she no longer feels the intense pain typical of arthrosis.

Many patients, when they hear the name hip replacement, are frightened by the surgery and fear that the implantation of a prosthesis will involve a long and painful post-operative hospital stay.

Fortunately, today thanks to the progress of modern surgery, it is possible to face this intervention with tecniche mininvasive, which offer significant advantages over traditional techniques. The front access route for hip replacement surgery, in particular, represents a cutting-edge surgical approach that is revolutionizing the patient experience.

Via anteriore anca: l’intervento con tecnica mininvasiva

Among the various techniques of prosthetic surgery for the hip, the front way (also called “bikini technique”) represents one of the most innovative and appreciated options.

The anterior approach allows to spare the muscular and tendon structures located near the acetabulum, the part of the hip most affected by the arthritic process. In the bikini technique an incision is made directly in the inguinal fold, thus leaving a less visible scar than traditional techniques.

Questa tecnica chirurgica rappresenta un approccio innovativo e mininvasivo alla chirurgia protesica d’anca. Questa metodica prevede che, dopo l’incisione sulla parte anteriore dell’articolazione, si passi attraverso i muscoli dell’anca (muscolo sartorio e tensore della fascia lata, muscolo retto femorale e tensore della fascia lata) senza andare ad intaccarli in alcun modo. Attraversati questi muscoli, si arriva alla capsula articolare che viene sezionata per accedere alla testa del femore. Quest’ultima struttura verrà asportata per procedere con la sostituzione protesica.

Access via the anterior route represents a “fast track” approach par excellence, a series of surgical techniques that aim to revolutionize the patient experience and reduce recovery times. The fast track approach, in fact, allows the patient to be back on his feet just a few hours after the operation. Specifically, will be able to return home after 48 hours, walking with two crutches for 15 days.

A complete return to normality, together with the possibility of resuming sports activity, can be achieved after just 3 months.

Minimally invasive hip technique: the advantages of the anterior approach

Bikini hip replacement surgery stands out for several reasons.

First of all, the access route allows the surgeon to reach the hip joint by passing between the muscles, without cutting or detaching them. This is a crucial advantage for preserving muscle strength and function after surgery and is especially important for sports patients.

During the intervention with anterior hip route the patient is in the supine position. This position facilitates the control of the length and stability of the leg during the implantation of the prosthesis.

There is also a lower risk of hip dislocation: thanks to the anterior approach and muscle preservation, the risk of dislocation (with prosthesis coming out) is lower than with other surgical approaches.

Choose the bikini technique to implant a hip prosthesis means bringing great benefits to the patient, including:

• Faster recovery: many patients who undergo hip replacement surgery formany patients who undergo hip replacement surgery for front way They report a particularly rapid recovery, with the ability to walk just a few hours after the operation.
• Less post-operative pain and limping: the typical muscle preservation of the front way helps reduce pain and lameness in the immediate post-operative period.
• Better control of limb metry after the operation, avoiding differences in length.
• Less bleeding during and after the surgery.
• Less need for anti-inflammatory and painkilling drugs in the post-operative period.
• Lower risk of complications: Although hip replacement surgery is generally safe, minimally invasive techniques can help further reduce the risk of some post-operative complications. There is also no involvement of the sciatic or femoral nerves.
• Small size engravings and easier to hide than traditional surgery.
• Shorter hospital stay: Thanks to faster recovery, patients often undergo minimally invasive technique for hip replacement they can return home more quickly.

Anterior Hip Replacement Surgery: The Ideal Candidate

Hip joint replacement surgery is generally recommended for all those patients who suffer from advanced arthrosis, who can no longer benefit from the use of conservative techniques or from Regenerative Medicine.

Patients with hip osteoarthritis are not only elderly patients. Many also sportivi, for example, can be affected. In athletes, in fact, arthrosis can be determined following wear of the joint caused by repetitive movements typical of the physical activity that is practiced. Even in these patients, therefore, prosthetic replacement may become necessary.

Furthermore, the anterior approach can also be performed on patients who do not suffer from arthrosis. This is the case, for example, of those who have suffered accidents or falls that have caused a acetabular fracture or other components of the hip joint.

L’accesso bikini è una tecnica mininvasiva per l’anca indicata sia per il paziente anziano che per chi soffre di artrosi precoce, sportivi inclusi. Per entrambe le tipologie di pazienti, infatti, consente di ridurre al minimo il sanguinamento e i tempi di recupero grazie al fatto che non prevede di incidere i muscoli, ma consente una via d’accesso intermuscolare. Ecco perché si considera la via anteriore come un approccio mini-invasivo alla protesi d’anca.

However, a thorough evaluation by the orthopedic surgeon is essential to determine if this technique is the most appropriate for the specific case. Factors such as the general physical condition of the patient, the morphology of the hip and the presence of any concomitant pathologies will be taken into account to offer the most personalized and effective surgical solution.

La minimally invasive hip replacement technique, e in particolare l’approccio con front way, rappresentano un significativo passo avanti nella chirurgia ortopedica. Questa tecnica offre la sicurezza di un recupero più rapido, meno dolore e un ritorno più veloce a una vita attiva e senza limitazioni.

Minimally invasive hip replacement technique: the post-operative period

Il post-operatorio dell’intervento della tecnica mininvasiva d’anca per la protesi con accesso anteriore It is certainly easier to bear for the patient who undergoes the operation. In this case, in fact, the patient will be able to stand again after about 48 hours from the procedure, walking with crutches for about 15 days.

The post-operative phase is very important to achieve complete recovery of joint mobility.

This is why Dr. Giacomi in this phase accompanies the patient towards total recovery by actively involving him in a personalized path with Hip Coaches, physiotherapists specialized in Post-surgical rehabilitation of anterior access hip replacement surgery.

These professionals will develop a treatment plan for the patient that is completely tailored to his or her needs, allowing him or her to return to his or her daily life in the shortest time possible, without pain.

Dr. Riccardo Giacomi – Minimally Invasive Hip Prosthesis

Il Dott. Riccardo Giacomi is an orthopedic surgeon with more than 30 years of experience. He has performed more than 3000 hip replacement implants and is specialized in hip replacement surgery and in particular in the minimally invasive technique that requires access via the anterior route.

His experience and expertise make him one of the reference points in Italy and Europe for anterior hip replacement surgery. Every year he helps hundreds of patients get back on their feet and recover permanently from hip osteoarthritis.

Going back to living without limits is possible. Trust Dr. Giacomi’s experience to understand if anterior access is the best surgical approach for you.