Hip Replacements with TidalHealth
SEAFORD, Del. – In this week’s Health Beat, brought to you by TidalHealth, WMDT spoke with Dr. William Doran, an orthopedic surgeon with TidalHealth Orthopedics.
Dr. Duran spoke with us about all things hip replacements, including why someone would need the operation.
“Sometimes it’s for arthritis that develops over time,” Dr. Doran said. “It could be post traumatic arthritis; you have an injury that develops, and causes significant pain for an individual. If you have an acute fracture, we’re able to get people back on their feet very quickly after their fracture within, hours to days, and they’re able to make a quick recovery.”
There are two types of approaches when conducting a hip replacement: the posterior or lateral approach versus an anterior hip approach. Dr. Doran said he’s specialized in the anterior approach the past decade, saying it’s a less invasive, technical weave through the patient’s muscles that ultimately allows for a faster and less painful recovery. Yet, these processes can be made simpler with the assistance of surgical robotics.
“The Mako is a robotic assisted surgical tool that allows incredible precision within 0.2 to 0.3 millimeters,” he told WMDT. “We’re able to, with a CAT scan that we obtain prior to surgery, obtain appropriate alignment for the implants, and then those implants at the time of implantation are exactly where we template it… This allows for decreased chances of dislocation, as inappropriate alignment can lead toward a dislocation.”
Dr. Doran says most patients are up and walking with the assistance of a walker within four hours of surgery. And, it’s not uncommon within two weeks that patients are able to remove the walker out of the equation.
“We always try to use surgery as our last option. But, with that being said, the quality of life diminishes an individual when arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis or a fracture… And you know, those can be great times to discuss a hip replacement.” Dr. Doran concluded.
If you have questions as to whether or not a hip replacement surgery would be beneficial for you, feel free to call a TidalHealth Orthopedics office.
