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Hip replacement is a major surgery. While traditional hip replacement involves operating from the side or back of the hip, the direct anterior approach requires a smaller incision, about three to four inches long at the front or anterior of the hip.

The anterior approach procedure to total hip replacement has been gaining popularity due to the benefits for patients including reduced scarring and minimized risk of muscle damage. The time from replacement to recovery is reduced and patients are returning to their active lifestyles more quickly.

The benefits of anterior approach to hip replacement include:

-Muscle-friendly
-Less invasive
-Less pain
-Less scarring
-Faster recovery

For more information, call 239-368-8277.

View this video and learn more including frequently asked questions to see if you are a candidate for hip replacement. For more information visit www.bone-fix.com or call 239-368-8277.

Have questions about hip replacement?  Want to learn more for yourself, a friend or family member?

To read answers to frequently asked questions about hip replacement, click here or call 239-368-8277.

One of the most frequently asked questions at my seminars is “Am I too old for hip replacement?”

My response is that diagnosis and overall health play a larger role in determining if a patient is a candidate for hip replacement surgery than age alone. Fortunately, there is now new research that validates this point.

According to a study, hip replacement surgery may still be a viable option for men and women over 80. The study, published in the December 2007 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, looked at patients 80 and older are experiencing success with hip replacements compared to those of their younger counterparts.

More than 234,000 total hip replacements (also known as hip arthroplasties) are performed in the U.S. each year; this number has increased dramatically in the last decade.

The study compared patients 80 years old and above with those who were 70 years old and below. Results showed that at the time of the surgery, patients in the 80-year-old group had similar strength and function in the replaced hip(s) as did the patients who were 70 years or younger.

The good news is that this study shows that people in their 80s can look forward to an excellent surgical outcome and therefore have a much improved quality of life.

For more information, visit www.bone-fix.com or call 239-368-8277.

Join me for a free seminar on the anterior approach to hip replacement, an innovative, less invasive alternative to traditional surgery allowing patients to return to their normal, active lifestyles more quickly.

The seminar is May 20 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Gulf Coast Medical Center, 13681 Doctors Way in Fort Myers.  The topics to be addressed will include:

• Osteoarthritis and causes of hip pain
• Treatment options including the anterior approach to hip replacement
• How hip replacement works, what to expect and recovery

For reservations, call 239-368-8277, ext. 2302. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited.

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Peter Curcione is among the first orthopaedic surgeons in Southwest Florida to offer the anterior approach to hip replacement, an innovative, less invasive alternative to traditional surgery allowing patients to return to their normal, active lifestyles more quickly. The public is invited to an upcoming free seminar to learn more.

To provide more information on treatment options for severe hip pain, including information on the anterior approach to hip replacement, Curcione will host a free educational seminar on May 20 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Gulf Coast Medical Center, 13681 Doctors Way in Fort Myers.  The topics to be addressed will include:

• Osteoarthritis and causes of hip pain
• Treatment options including the anterior approach to hip replacement
• How hip replacement works, what to expect and recovery

For reservations, call 239-368-8277, ext. 2302. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited.

In addition to recent clinical studies that validate the outcomes of the anterior approach to hip replacement to the total hip replacement, patients also are reporting benefits.

After about a year of walking in pain, 69-year-old Rita Reinhart from Cape Coral visited Curcione at the recommendation of a friend. X-rays revealed Reinhart had severe osteoarthritis.

“I had been experiencing hip pain and having trouble walking for over a year,” said Reinhart. “After meeting Dr. Curcione, he recommended the anterior approach to hip replacement. Days later, I was home and walking again. I’m no longer living in pain and once again able to keep up with my 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.”

Hip replacement is a major surgery. While traditional hip replacement involves operating from the side or back of the hip, the direct anterior approach requires a smaller incision, about three to four inches long at the front or anterior of the hip. The anterior approach procedure to total hip replacement has been gaining popularity due to its potential benefits including reduced scarring and minimized risk of muscle damage. To learn more about the anterior approach to hip replacement, visit www.bone-fix.com.

Dr. Peter Curcione is an osteopathic physician, a board certified orthopaedic surgeon and a partner in the Athletic Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Center. With offices in Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres, Curcione has served patients in Southwest Florida since 1997. His specialty training and interests include joint replacement surgery, including minimally-invasive procedures such as the anterior approach to hip replacement. In addition, Curcione is experienced and trained in treating disorders of the shoulder and the hand, including fracture care, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis care and reconstructive surgery of the hand. He is trained in arthroscopic shoulder surgery, specifically, all arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs and ligament repairs, as well as arthroscopic reconstruction of the shoulder. He takes great care to keep up-to-date with the most cutting-edge technologies and procedures to optimally serve his patients.

For more information, visit www.bone-fix.com. Click video to view a broadcast of how the anterior approach to hip replacement surgery is performed. Also, visit Dr. Cucione’s blog at www.topbonedoc.com and follow him online on Facebook and twitter.com/topbonedoc.

Once you and your orthopaedic surgeon have decided that hip replacement surgery is right for you, there are some steps you should take to prepare yourself. Below is a list of tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

Medical Evaluation

If you decide to have hip replacement surgery, you may be asked to have a complete physical examination by your primary care doctor before your surgical procedure. This is needed to assess your health and identify conditions that can interfere with your surgery or recovery.

Tests

Several tests may be needed to help plan your surgery: blood and urine samples may be tested and a cardiogram and chest x-rays (radiographs) may be obtained.

Preparing Your Skin

Your skin should not have any infections or irritations before surgery. If either is present, contact your orthopaedic surgeon for a program to improve your skin before surgery.

Blood Donations

You may be advised to donate your own blood prior to surgery. It will be stored in the event you need blood after surgery.

Medications

Tell your orthopaedic surgeon about the medications you are taking. Your orthopaedist or your primary care doctor will advise you which medications you should stop or can continue taking before surgery.

Weight Loss

If you are overweight, your doctor may ask you to lose some weight before surgery to minimize the stress on your new hip and possibly decrease the risks of surgery.

Dental Evaluation

Although infections after hip replacement are not common, an infection can occur if bacteria enter your bloodstream. Because bacteria can enter the bloodstream during dental procedures, you should consider getting treatment for significant dental diseases (including tooth extractions and periodontal work) before your hip replacement surgery. Routine cleaning of your teeth should be delayed for several weeks after surgery.

Urinary Evaluation

Individuals with a history of recent or frequent urinary infections and older men with prostate disease should consider a urological evaluation before surgery.

Social Planning

Although you will be able to walk with crutches or a walker soon after surgery, you will need some help for several weeks with such tasks as cooking, shopping, bathing and laundry. If you live alone, your orthopaedic surgeon’s office, a social worker, or a discharge planner at the hospital can help you make advanced arrangements to have someone assist you at your home. A short stay in an extended-care facility during your recovery after surgery also may be arranged.

Home Planning

The following is a list of home modifications that will make your return home easier during your recovery:

• Securely fastened safety bars or handrails in your shower or bath
• Secure handrails along all stairways
• A stable chair for your early recovery with a firm seat cushion (that allows your knees to remain lower than your hips), a firm back and two arms
• A raised toilet seat
• A stable shower bench or chair for bathing
• A long-handled sponge and shower hose
• A dressing stick, a sock aid and a long-handled shoe horn for putting on and taking off shoes and socks without excessively bending your new hip
• A reacher that will allow you to grab objects without excessive bending of your hips
• Firm pillows for your chairs, sofas and car that enable you to sit with your knees lower than your hips
• Removal of all loose carpets and electrical cords from the areas where you walk in your home

For more information, call 239-368-8277 or visit www.bone-fix.com.

Attend my free seminar tomorrow, April 15 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Gulf Coast Medical Center, 13681 Doctors Way in Fort Myers.  The topics to be addressed will include:

• Osteoarthritis and causes of hip pain
• Treatment options including the anterior approach to hip replacement
• How hip replacement works, what to expect and recovery

For reservations, call 239-368-8277, ext. 2302. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited.

Join me tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Gulf Coast Medical Center, 13681 Doctors Way in Fort Myers. The topics to be addressed will include:

• Osteoarthritis and causes of hip pain
• Treatment options including anterior approach to hip replacement
• How hip replacement works, what to expect and recovery

For reservations, call 239-368-8277, ext. 2302. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited.

52-year-old Robert Erkens from Lehigh Acres was diagnosed with osteoarthritis more than 12 years ago. What started out as a nagging pain in his hip eventually grew worse over time.

“I have lived in pain for all of these years, afraid of surgery,” says Erkens. “I could barely walk more than a mile throughout the course of a day. It was very limiting to my work and lifestyle.”

Working in the construction industry, Erkens was accustomed to physical labor so when the pain persisted, he made a career change and began working as a casino dealer. Still, the constant pain had him visiting physicians and exploring his treatment options.

“I read up on the latest treatments for hip replacement and tried to prepare myself for the inevitable – surgery,” says Erkens. “When I first met Dr. Curcione, I was impressed with his knowledge and experiences with the various treatment options. He was very confident in recommending the anterior approach to hip replacement for me. We discussed the benefits – less risk for dislocation, torn muscles and recovery time and he told me it was a decision that I would not regret.”

In December 2009, after more than a decade of living in pain, Erkens underwent the anterior approach to hip replacement.

“Dr. Curcione was right – I have no regrets,” says Erkens. “While I wish I’d done it sooner, I just wasn’t inspired until meeting Dr. Curcione. I feel 20 years younger – I’m exercising, working and enjoying my life again. I feel like I’ve won the lottery.”

To learn more, join me for a free seminar on Thursday, Feb. 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Gulf Coast Medical Center, 13681 Doctors Way in Fort Myers.

The topics to be addressed will include:
• Osteoarthritis and causes of hip pain
• Treatment options including anterior approach to hip replacement
• How hip replacement works, what to expect and recovery

For reservations, call 239-368-8277, ext. 2302. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited.