Advances in Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Are you considering having hip replacement surgery? Do you worry about the surgical risks and recovery? This is a common concern.

While a great majority of patients do well with hip replacement surgery, a small percentage of folks experience post surgical complications. Post surgical complications can occur regardless of the surgical approach (anterior vs posterior incisions) or the implant used. A majority of these problem cases involve non-ideal positioning (mal-positioning) of the surgical implants, specifically the cup. Cup mal-position can occur even in the best of hands. Believe it or not, 50% of even elite surgeons miss the target by more then 10 degrees when placing the artificial cup during traditional surgery. Poor cup position can also occur with the anterior hip incision approach. Poor position of the cup can lead to problems including early wear and failure of the implant, hip dislocations and leg length inequality.

Due to the adverse effects of cup mal-positioning, investigators have looked at different modifications in surgical technique including anterior versus posterior hip incisions. There have also been some advances in robotic assisted surgery however this technology has not been broadly adopted. Until recently very few advances have been made in instrument design.

Our own Dr. Michael Gillman has developed a customized patient-specific hip replacement method that solves a difficult problem for orthopaedic surgeons; being able to accurately place the acetabular cup implant during surgery. Dr Gillman’s design uses a pre operative CT or MRI scan to produce 3D printed surgical instruments. These instruments have been validated by a recognized world academic leader. Professor Alister Hart directs the world’s largest failed implant retrieval center collecting implants from 500 surgeons in 25 countries and testing independently for 9 of the world’s largest implant manufacturers. Professor Hart will present data to the world at the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty meeting in October showing 95% accuracy within 10 degrees of the target with Bullseye Hip Replacement Instruments®.

Next up clinical trials in the U.S. and U.K. Congratulations Dr. Gillman!

ABOUT DR. GILLMAN

Dr. Gillman is an orthopedic surgeon and 3rd generation physician. He received B.S. with honors and M.S. degrees from Stanford University and his Medical Degree with AOA honors from Case Western Reserve University.  He completed residency at Tufts University affiliated hospitals, fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine and received a Health Care Executive degree from UC Irvine.  He has practiced in Orange County since 1999. He is an early adopter of ambulatory knee replacement teaching other surgeons in the technique.  In addition, he has developed a method for patient-specific hip replacement with issued patents and testing validated by academic orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. and London.  In his free time he enjoys recreational sports, spending time with his wife Rebecca and three sons.  He currently serves on the Board of Tarbut V’Torah Community.

If you would like to find out more about Total Hip Replacement surgery please call for an appointment with Dr. Gillman at 714.598.1745