Orthopedic surgeons in the Sutter Health network specialize in advanced hip replacement techniques, including the traditional posterior approach, anterior approach and robotic-assisted surgery. These procedures involve replacing the stem (the long end of the bone) and the acetabular “cup” of your hip joint with artificial joints.

If you’ve tried nonsurgical alternatives but you’re still dealing with injury or severe arthritis, these common hip surgeries can help ease pain and restore mobility. Most people spend one night in the hospital after surgery, but outpatient surgery is possible. It takes most people three to six weeks after surgery to walk without an assistive device and six to 12 weeks to resume normal activities. Recovery is gradual. It can take six to 12 months to regain full strength. The good news? Most hip replacements last about 20 years.

Posterior Hip Replacements

Posterior hip replacements are often the preferred technique for large or muscular people because additional soft tissue can make it hard for a surgeon to access the hip joint. This surgery gives orthopedic surgeons a direct and clear path to the hip. Your surgeon will make an incision through muscles at the back of your hip to easily access the hip joint. The muscles are repaired and reattached at the end of the surgery.

Anterior Hip Replacements

Anterior hip replacements allow the orthopedic surgeon to reach the hip joint from the front of the hip instead of through the buttocks. This surgery is considered minimally invasive because it requires a 3- to 6-inch incision compared to the 6- to 10-inch incision used for the posterior approach. The surgeon is also able to move the muscles aside rather than cutting through them. This creates less damage and trauma to the soft tissues around the hip, typically allowing a quicker recovery time. In addition, there’s a lower risk of dislocating the new hip prosthesis when it's placed via the anterior approach, since the muscles used to support the hip joint remain strong.

Robotic-Assisted Hip Replacements

Many orthopedic surgeons in the Sutter Health network use robotic arm systems to ensure your hip replacement is positioned and aligned correctly. The technology’s software creates a 3D model of your hip. This lets your surgeon choose the best size and position for your new joint based on your anatomy. During surgery, your doctor guides the robotic arm based on your 3D model.

Robotic-assisted hip replacements are available at several hospitals in the Sutter Health network, including:

• Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland.
• California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.
• Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital in Santa Rosa.
• Sutter Surgical Hospital – North Valley in Yuba City.