Success with Anterior Hip Replacement

Mitch Covington has been an avid handball player for 40 years. He started experiencing hip pain a few years ago, but continued to play … until the pain was so bad he was no longer able to. Covington was referred to Malcolm E. Ghazal, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon at Sierra Pacific Orthopaedic & Spine Center. After speaking with Dr. Ghazal, Covington decided to have his hip replaced using the anterior approach.

Anterior hip replacement surgery requires the surgeon to access the joint from the front of the hip, instead of from the side or rear, as it is done traditionally. Performing the hip replacement in this fashion means that the muscles attached to the hip do not need to be cut; they can simply be moved aside instead. Dr. Ghazal says, “Patients who have undergone this type of replacement often heal quicker, have less pain during recovery, enjoy shorter hospital stays after surgery, and in most cases are up and walking again the same day.”

Covington was very pleased with his the results of his surgery. So pleased, in fact, that within the next year, he had his other hip replaced as well. “I’m back to playing handball 2 to 3 times per week,” Covington says. “My quality of life is much improved following the surgery. I play handball better now than I did before!”

There are several physicians at Sierra Pacific Orthopaedic & Spine Center that currently perform this procedure. If you are experiencing hip pain or considering hip replacement, contact Sierra Pacific Orthopaedic & Spine Center today at (877) 666-6080 to make an appointment with a specialist.