Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates Now Offers the Minimally Invasive Direct Anterior Approach for Hip Replacement
SALISBURY, Md., April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates (POA) is now offering minimally invasive hip replacement surgery using the direct anterior approach. For patients who are candidates, this advanced technique may offer advantages over standard surgical procedures, including smaller incision, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and rehabilitation, less blood loss, and less scar tissue.
Hip replacement surgery is a surgical procedure to replace a worn out or damaged hip with an artificial joint. In a traditional hip replacement, the surgeon operates from the side of the hip (the lateral approach) or the back of the hip (the posterior approach). "The standard lateral approach requires a 4 to 6-inch incision and possibly significant disturbance to the muscle and connective tissues," explains Pasquale Petrera, M.D., a board certified orthopaedic surgeon with POA. "While the vast majority of hip replacement surgeries in the United States are performed with these two approaches; a minimally invasive approach may be the right solution for some patients."
The minimally invasive direct anterior hip replacement is performed by a highly skilled, specially trained orthopaedic surgeon who gains access to the hip joint through a 3 to 4-inch incision located just lateral to the front of the hip without cutting any muscles. Dr. Petrera received specialized training in the approach from physicians at the world-renowned Rothman Institute for Orthopaedics and now offers direct anterior hip replacement at POA's Salisbury, Maryland, location. "This surgical approach is unique because it allows me to keep the patient's muscle tissue intact by using a smaller incision and working between the muscles and tissues as the surgery progresses," Dr. Petrera explains. "This also eliminates the need for me to detach the muscles and tissue from the femur during surgery, which enables me to avoid creating additional trauma to the surrounding tissue."
Patients say the direct anterior hip replacement provides a more "natural" feeling hip, according to Dr. Petrera. "Using inter-operative X-rays during the procedure helps ensure the precise placement of the implants, usually resulting in more functional hip mechanics, equal leg length and a more natural gait without a limp."
To find out if you are a candidate for a hip replacement with the anterior approach, contact Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates at (877) 749-4154 to set up a consultation with Dr. Petrera.
About Pasquale Petrera, M.D.
Fellowship-trained in hip and knee reconstruction, Pasquale Petrera, M.D., is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in joint replacement and osteoarthritis. He is also the director of the Joint Replacement Center at Peninsula Regional Medical Center. Dr. Petrera is heavily involved in ongoing research on hip and knee replacement and received his specialized training in the direct anterior approach to hip replacement from physicians at the world-renowned Rothman Institute for Orthopaedics.
About Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates
For more than 50 years, Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates, P.A., has provided exceptional orthopaedic care to the Delmarva Peninsula community. With five locations throughout Delaware and Maryland, the 14 physicians of POA represent a broad spectrum of sub-specialty care with a focused approach. POA patients receive specialized expertise, advanced orthopaedic treatments and diagnostic services from a practice recognized as one of the premier orthopaedic groups on the east coast. For more information, visit http://peninsulaortho.com.
SOURCE Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates
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