Anterior Approach Total Hip Replacement (AA-THR)
ANTERIOR APPROACH TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT (AA-THR)
Minimally Invasive Total Hip Replacement
Hip replacement surgery is performed when the hip joint has reached a point where painful symptoms can no longer be controlled with non-operative treatments. In a hip replacement procedure, your surgeon removes the damaged joint surface and replaces it with an artificial implant. The traditional, or posterior hip replacement approach requires surgeons to cut muscles and other soft tissue at the back of the hip to access the hip joint.
FAQS
Frequently asked questions about surgical procedures
Can I use my insurance and get these prices?
Payment is due 14 calendar days prior to your surgery date. If, after the cutoff, your account is not settled, your case must be postponed.
How quickly can I have surgery?
How will I meet my surgeon?
If I had a car or work accident, would you work with my employer or attorney for payment?
What if I get sick right before my surgery?
You could develop a respiratory infection, a urinary tract infection, COVID, or some other condition that may necessitate postponement. There is no penalty when this happens.
What’s Included:
- Facility fee
- Graft and hardware costs (if needed)
- Surgeon and assistant surgeon fees
- Anesthesiologist
- Time in the recovery unit (at no additional charge)
- Initial consultation visit
- One post-operative visit
*Please note: If you choose not to proceed with surgery after the initial consultation, or if you delay your procedure for more than 6 weeks, you will need to update your consultation at a cost of $375.
What’s not included:
- Lab testing before and after the surgery, as needed
- Electrocardiogram (EKG), depending on age. If you had one elsewhere in the past 6 months and it read “normal”, we can forego this expense.
- Imaging costs. X-rays and MRIs can be obtained anywhere.
- Physical therapy services
- Medications you’ll need (oral or IV antibiotic infusions if an infection arises)
- Wound care
- Bracing supplies
- Additional doctor visits (a pre-operative visit with the surgeon, in person, and any required post-op follow-ups after the suture removal to monitor your progress
- Additional surgical intervention if a complication arises
- Additional imaging or hospital care if a blood clot develops
Benefits of the Anterior Approach
Anterior-Approach Total Hip Replacement (AA-THR) surgery is an example of how the medical field is continually evolving and trying to improve outcomes for patients. Proponents of anterior hip replacement surgery believe it offers several advantages, including:
Less damage to major muscles.
The AA-THR avoids cutting major muscles. There are fewer muscles at the front of the hip, and the surgeon works between them, rather than cutting through muscle fibers or detaching muscles from bones.
Faster recovery.
After surgery, a patient can bend at the hip and bear weight as soon as it is comfortable. Most anterior hip replacement patients can use crutches or a walker sooner than patients who have had a traditional surgery.
Less post-operative pain.
Because the surgery does not require cutting major muscles, patients typically experience less pain after surgery and require less pain medication, and coupled with the use of Exparel and/or Iovera treatments, low- or no-opioid post-surgical pain control is possible.
Decreased risk of hip dislocation.
Anterior hip replacement surgery does not disturb the muscles and soft tissue structures that naturally prevent the hip from dislocating; therefore, anterior surgical patients are less likely to suffer a hip dislocation.
Better range of movement.
Patients may bend over or sit with their legs crossed without risking hip dislocations. Most traditional hip replacement patients are told to avoid sitting with legs crossed for at least 6 to 8 weeks following surgery.
Go home sooner.
A patient who undergoes anterior hip replacement can typically expect a shorter stay than with a traditional approach.
Patient Review
“Dr. Manning totally replaced my hip using the less invasive anterior approach. Just twelve hours after my surgery, I was walking stairs during physical therapy. I even went home the next morning. Best of all, my recovery was not as painful as I had anticipated. I wholeheartedly recommend and personally vouch for the integrity, skill, and professionalism of Dr. Manning and the entire SGSC staff.”
Choosing the Right Orthopedic Surgeon
The Anterior Approach Hip Replacement surgery is a technically demanding surgery. Surgeons face a steep learning curve for this procedure, so choosing a surgeon who is skilled and has a long and successful record in the Traditional and the Anterior Approach is an important consideration.
Dr. Michael Manning, owner of Novatio Orthopedics of St. George, has successfully performed over 1,000 Anterior Hip Replacements and 800 traditional Posterior Hip replacements. Dr. Manning has also completed over 1,500 Total Knee Replacements. In addition, he is highly trained in Total Shoulder replacements and has extensive experience in orthopedic sports medicine as well as orthopedic trauma surgeries.
Dr. Manning utilizes Computer Navigation Assisted surgery on Total Hip and Total Knee Replacements, and encourages the use of Low- or No-Opiod pain control treatments such as Exparel and Iovera.
State-of-the-Art AA-THR Equipment – Hana Table
SGSC is committed to Patient Safety and the best possible surgical outcomes, so investing in cutting-edge instrumentation and technology is a high priority. To facilitate the best Anterior Approach Hip surgery outcomes, SGSC has invested in a HANA Table.
The Hana® is a state-of-the-art fracture table that optimizes the Anterior Approach to Total Hip Replacement (AA-THR). Its unique patient positioning capabilities enable the surgeon to replace the hip through a single incision, Anterior Approach without detachment of muscle from the pelvis or femur.
The Hana® table allows for safe extension, external rotation of the leg, incorporating the patented support system, enhancing hip exposure for improved component placement – a positioning option not possible with conventional surgery tables.
*SGSC is the only Ambulatory Surgical Center in Southern Utah that uses a Hana Table.
Can I Travel to St George for Surgery?
Yes, and we’ll help you make all your arrangements.
- We have arrangements to try to obtain free flights through a non-profit volunteer pilot organization. We can do this with 10 days’ advance notice in most cases.
- We have discount codes for the Holiday Inn in town. This hotel is 1.5 miles from the surgery center and 2 miles from our clinic.
- We’ll arrange to send your after-surgery medications to your hometown pharmacy for pickup before you leave.
What if I would rather drive to St George?
No problem, we can help with those plans as well. When you have surgery with us, we’ll need to make sure you’re safe and comfortable after surgery. We’ll arrange cold compression therapy that requires an AC/DC adaptor/transformer and frequent stops to stretch and refill the ice reservoir on the road.
We’ll ask about the vehicle you’ll travel in to ensure you have a way to elevate and stretch out in the vehicle on the road while someone else does the driving.
How are follow-up and initial consultations handled?
In-person and telehealth consultations are possible with the surgeon to whom your case is assigned. The initial visit is included in the surgical package and is valued at $375.
We can also obtain the flights from the volunteer pilot nonprofit if you’d like to come for initial and follow-up visits in person. One follow-up visit is included in the surgical package at a value of $175. Any additional visits are charged at the time of service to your credit or debit card.
Transparent Pricing Guide
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