By the way, doctor: Is anterior hip replacement better?
The anterior approach does have a few advantages. There are a lot of claims about anterior hip replacement being less invasive or "tissue sparing." I think that's overstating it — the anterior approach is not less invasive. But there is a natural opening beside the sartorius muscle in the front of the thigh, so the anterior approach means the surgeon can gain access to the hip joint by separating muscle tissue rather than cutting through it. The posterolateral approach involves cutting through some muscle tissue, but the muscles affected (called the short external hip rotators) aren't important for common day-to-day movements, like walking. Besides, depending on the case, the surgeon can repair the hip rotators.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.