Superior and Mini-Posterior Approaches to Hip Replacement

The superior-based hip approaches are a group of minimally invasive ways to access the hip. They are used to limit muscle injury during surgery. Some examples are Direct Superior and SuperPath®, with an incision just above the thighbone that spares front muscles from stretch and damage.

Potential advantages of the Superior Approach:

• Muscle sparing
• Less risk of fracture than anterior approaches
• Smaller, 3-6 inch scar in many patients
• Fewer hip precautions and restrictions immediately following surgery
• Less pain
• Faster recovery

The posterior hip approach is the most common hip approach for replacement. A minimally invasive technique called Mini-Posterior involves an incision just behind the thighbone that spares front muscles from stretch and damage.

Potential advantages of the Mini-Posterior Approach:

• Muscle sparing
• Smaller, 3-6 inch scar in many patients
• Can be used with any patient size, given its ability to be extended for larger hips
• Fewer hip precautions and restrictions immediately following surgery
• Less pain
• Faster recovery

There are risks and benefits to any surgical approach to hip replacement surgery. Not everyone is a candidate for all approaches. We encourage you to talk with your surgeon about their preferred approach to provide you with the safest, most successful experience.