Supercapsular percutaneously assisted total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis

Description:

Hip osteoarthritis is a condition in the hip joint that can cause pain, stiffness and difficulty walking. Sometimes the joint needs replacing surgically (total hip arthroplasty). In this procedure, smaller cuts are used to access the hip than in standard surgery. Also, tendons and muscles are moved apart rather than cut, and the hip does not need to be dislocated. Two small cuts are made in the skin on the outside of the hip, and surgical instruments are put through the cuts (percutaneous) to access the joint. The top of the thigh bone is removed, a dome-like structure is fitted into the socket of the joint, and a metal ball and stick are fitted into the bone (supercapsular). The procedure is done under a general or regional anaesthesia, and takes about 2 hours. The aim is to reduce symptoms and improve hip function, and reduce trauma during the operation compared with that during standard hip replacement surgery.