Had it with hip pain? You're not alone. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, one in four people may develop painful hip arthritis in his or her lifetime. If you suffer from hip pain due to either inflammatory or non-inflammatory degenerative joint disease, St. Luke's Des Peres Hospital offers innovative treatment options in addition to a range of non-surgical options.

• Surgeons, nurses and physical therapists that specialize in orthopedic care.
• A range of nonsurgical options, including medication and outpatient physical therapy.

• Bursitis
• Dislocations
• Fractures
• Osteoarthritis
• Referred Pain
• Strains

Hip osteoarthritis, injury or fracture can be painful and debilitating. When nonsurgical treatments don't offer relief, your doctor may recommend a hip replacement, where the diseased parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with new, artificial parts.

At St. Luke's Des Peres Hospital, we offer traditional and anterior approach hip replacement surgery.

Anterior approach total hip replacement is an alternative to traditional hip replacement surgery. The anterior approach allows hip replacement through a single, short incision made over the front of the hip joint without detaching the muscle from the pelvis (hip) or femur (thigh bone). The muscles important to hip function are not disturbed so patients have less pain and more freedom of movement. As a result, healing can occur more quickly.

Benefits of the anterior approach may include:

• A tissue sparing procedure where a surgeon can work between your muscles without detaching them from the hip or thigh-bones.
• Makes small incision hip replacement surgery an option for some patients.
• Seeks to help patients freely bend their hip and bear full weight immediately after surgery - this may result in a faster recovery.

Only a qualified surgeon can determine if you're a good candidate for total hip replacement and which technique will work best for you.

Hip replacement surgery, whether traditional or anterior approach, is performed to help decrease pain, increase mobility and improve quality of life. It may be recommended if other treatment methods, such as exercise, walking aids or medication, are not effective. High-impact activities, including tennis, basketball and jogging, should be avoided after surgery. Instead, patients can walk, swim or ride a stationary bicycle to increase muscle strength and improve cardiovascular health without injuring their new hip. You will need to discuss your specific situation and rehabilitation with your surgeon.

Typically, candidates for hip replacement will experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Pain while putting weight on the affected joints.
• Limping to lessen the weight-bearing pressure on the hip.
• Hip pain or stiffness during walking or other impact activities.
• Failure to respond to nonsurgical treatments or pain medication.

Additional treatments such as medication, physical therapy and cortisone injections are often prescribed before deciding surgery is necessary.

Back & spine care
Knee care
Shoulder care
Hand & wrist care

Sports medicine
Classes