Weitz & Luxenberg addresses minimally invasive hip replacement surgery

Weitz & Luxenberg updates these pages with the latest available information on issues pertaining to hip replacement surgery, including the recalled DePuy hip implants. If you have experienced complications following traditional hip replacement surgery or minimally invasive hip replacement surgery, and would like to know what legal avenue to pursue, please contact Weitz & Luxenberg.

What is minimally invasive hip replacement surgery?

Your eligibility for this type of procedure is contingent upon your specific hip condition, but “candidates for minimal incision procedures are typically thin, young and are in good overall health.” (AAOS) In order to understand the difference between minimally invasive hip surgery and traditional hip surgery, visualize a standard 12’’ ruler. In a traditional hip procedure, the incision is approximately the same length as a ruler, while a minimally invasive incision is only about 3-4 inches in length. (Kelsey Seybold Clinic)

The benefits of minimally invasive hip replacement surgery

A patient may opt to have minimally invasive hip surgery for the following reasons:

• Compared to traditional hip replacement surgery, there is usually less pain
• The incision is smaller, which means that the scar itself will be smaller and more cosmetically pleasing
• There is minimal blood bloss
• There is less muscle and tissue disruption around the hip joint
• The procedure is generally less expensive
• The rehabilitation period is shorter, which means a quicker return to normal activity

The complications of minimally invasive hip replacement surgery

Like all surgical procedures, minimally invasive hip replacement is not without risks.

• There is a high risk of damage to the nerves and arteries surrounding the site of surgery. If the femoral implant is not installed properly, or if it not the right size for the patient’s acetabulum, the implant can loosen or become dislodged.
• Infections are one of the most common complications that can occur both during and following any hip surgery procedure. A medical professional will do everything possible to ensure that the surgical room and surgical equipment are clean, but the risk of infection can never be completely eradicated.  Fortunately, in the United States, infection is not a common occurrence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “of the 4 million people that undergo orthopedic surgery in the United States each year, only 1 percent suffer infections.” (Live Strong)
• Minimally invasive hip replacement surgery, unlike its traditional counterpart, has not been performed long in the United States.  The very first minimally invasive hip replacement surgery was performed in 2001, in Chicago, Illinois and has since been offered at very few medical institutions.

How is minimally invasive hip replacement surgery performed?

• Firstly, a medical professional administers anesthesia to the patient so that they cannot feel pain while the procedure is performed.
• Along with any necessary surgical equipment, a medical professional lays out the implants on the operating table. The implants utilized in minally invasive hip surgery are no different than the ones used in traditional hip surgery.  
• The medical professional creates an incision over the outside of the hip. As in traditional hip surgery, the muscles and tendons surrounding the hip joint are “split or detached, but to a lesser extent.” After the implants have been embedded, the medical professional manually mends the muscles and tendons to accelerate healing and thwart dislocation of the hip.
• The length of time following minimally invasive hip surgery varies, but rarely is it longer than 5 days.

If you have any questions or concerns about hip replacement surgery issues, such as the DePuy hip implants, please contact Weitz & Luxenberg.

Acknowledgements:

The Kelsey Seybold Clinic:

http://www.kelsey-seybold.com/ms_ortho/MinimallyInvasiveHipReplacement.cfm

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS): http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00404

Live Strong: http://www.livestrong.com/article/225851-complications-of-minimally-invasive-hip-surgery/

Health Base:

http://healthbase.wordpress.com/2007/02/23/advantages-of-minimally-invasive-hip-surgery/

Click To Talk To Us Online