Study: 80% of Hip Replacement Patients Eligible for Minimally Invasive Procedure

Four of every five hip replacement patients are eligible for a minimally invasive hip surgery procedure, according to a study reported by a researcher at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago.

Dr. Richard Berger, who pioneered this surgical approach in 2001, found that patients with less than ideal bone quality, who are overweight or have excessive fat may be considered for the minimally invasive hip replacement.

In his study of 120 patients who underwent minimally invasive hip surgery, Dr. Richard Berger also found that 93 percent of them left the hospital the same day, while the other 7 percent went home a day later.

Berger also reported a low complication rate with this type of surgery and noted that none of the patients was readmitted to the hospital. The patients ranged in age from 29 to 76 in age.

Last year Berger performed over 400 minimally invasive hip surgeries. As more surgeons are trained, he expressed the belief that this type of surgery would move from academic medical centers to community hospitals.

Berger said the surgical procedure uses modified instruments and takes the same amount of time, 1.5 to 2 hours, but involves the cutting of fewer muscles, tendons and ligaments. As a result, he said the patient experiences significantly reduced levels of pain and recovers from the operation more swiftly.

Berger said once he sees a patient for a consultation for a hip replacement, the surgery is scheduled within a month or two. A few days after the operation, the patient feels better than he has in years.

"It's the way to go for hip replacement," Berger said. "It's a procedure that is changing the way people get surgery. Now hip replacement does not require a lengthy hospital stay or recovery time. Other surgeons are excited to learn the procedure."

Other sources: Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center