Phillip Downer, MD, performs hip replacement surgery using anterior approach procedure
New procedure offers patients quicker steps to recovery
and makes small incision surgery an option for more patients
July 15, 2008 – The demand for hip replacement is growing rapidly. In fact, the number of primary total hip replacements is estimated to increase by 174 percent – to 572,000 – in 2030. As demand grows, technology often gets smarter – which has proved to be true in the case of hip replacements. Recent medical advancements have allowed many patients with hip arthritis to benefit from a significantly faster recovery from total hip replacements.
Dr. Phillip Downer, MD of Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle is one of only a few physicians in the Pacific Northwest who performs hip replacement surgery using the Anterior Approach. The anterior approach hip replacement utilizes a smaller incision, where the hip is approached and replaced through a natural interval between the muscles instead of detaching multiple muscles from the femur during surgery.
"This surgery allows me to leave important gluteal muscles intact, so patients can expect to be on their feet much faster,“ said Dr. Downer.
A specially designed surgical table allows the surgeon to approach the hip joint from the front as opposed to the side or back. In this way, important muscles are left relatively undisturbed, which may result in a quicker recovery process. The anterior approach is also thought to reduce the risk of dislocation later on. Additionally, patients may bend their hip and bear full weight sooner after this surgery than other types of hip replacement surgery.
"It was wonderful. It was absolutely wonderful. I was walking stairs with a therapist within three to four days,“ said a patient of Dr. Downer.
About Phillip Downer, MD
Dr. Downer is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a special interest in hip and knee preservation surgery. Dr. Downer sees patients of all ages, but his special interest in joint preservation has led him to treat many younger patients with hip problems, such as hip dysplasia or hip impingement. One of only a few surgeons in the Pacific Northwest who performs hip arthroscopies for these issues, Dr. Downer has quickly become one of Seattle‘s leading hip specialists. In addition to joint preservation, Dr. Downer treats patients with more advanced complications. He performs over 250 hip replacements per year, primarily through the tissue sparing surgery approach. Dr. Downer is part of Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle, a full-service orthopedic practice located in the Ballard and Wallingford neighborhoods of Seattle.