Often when someone suffers a personal injury to one of their knees, because of a due to a fall or accident, the recovery can cause damage to the opposite side or newly favored hip. And in these instances a hip replacement is necessary.
Hip replacements have been with us for a long time and doctors have pretty much perfected the 
procedure. However, a group of orthopedic surgeons believe they can make such surgeries less intrusive and better for injury victims.
As reported by the New York Times, the new technique that these orthopedic specialists are utilizing is called anterior hip replacement. It is designed to be less invasive, require less of a hospital stay, and promote a quicker return to pre-injury activities for the patient.
The procedure, new in comparison to the more traditional methods, was actually pioneered in California two decades ago. Another new and less invasive technique receiving some attention is called the PATH technique. PATH was also developed in California.
But these new techniques have received a mixed review and achieved mixed results. And as with much in medicine, the results appear to be related to the pre-injury or pre-surgery health of the patient.
Bottom line: if you have suffered a personal injury of any sort, and are in need of a hip replacement, talk to your doctor or surgeon and find out the best procedure for your specific situation.
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