Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery

Dr Chien-Wen Liew was an invited guest speaker at the M.O.R.E symposium on Hip Arthroplasty in Sydney. On November 29th 2013, Dr Liew spoke on his experiences with the direct anterior approach, and how his time in France, Austria, USA and Switzerland expanded his skills to include minimally invasive hip surgery utilising a muscle sparing approach.

The Direct Anterior Approach utilises an internervous and intermuscular interval (between nerves and muscles, not through them) which gains access to the hip. Using special equipment and knowledge of this interval, Dr Liew inserts a hip replacement into a patient without any damage to muscle.

Numerous studies show the benefits of the direct anterior approach for hip arthroplasty, and Dr Liew hopes to bring these new skills to Adelaide. Described ss the fastest growing approach worldwide, it was with surprise that Dr Liew learnt that the Direct Anterior Approach has been used for over 20 years in Europe, with some of Orthopaedics Forefathers, being the pioneers in this approach.

For selected patients, the direct anterior approach for hip arthroplasty provides a rapid recovery from surgery, with patients often walking the same day of surgery, and typically staying in hospital less than with other approaches. This relates to the lower amount of muscle damage during prosthesis insertion. Studies have also shown no detriment using this approach in longer term studies.

Other approaches to the hip also have their advantages, and often more complex cases are performed using the posterior approach or direct lateral approach. These can be useful in cases where patients have developmental deformities that need to be correct during the hip arthroplasty.

Dr Chien-Wen Liew says that: “For the standard patient needing a hip replacement in Adelaide, the direct anterior approach gives them a much earlier recovery by not violating any muscles. It is an elegant approach. This means that patients are more confident after surgery and are able to return to their desired level of function much quicker”.

For more information, please make an appointment with Dr Liew by calling (08) 70990 0188