Recover faster with minimally invasive hip replacement

More than 2.5 million Americans currently live with a hip replacement, most commonly to relieve the pain and immobility caused by arthritis.

According to Carl Ollivierre, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Florida Musculoskeletal Institute and on the medical staff of Central Florida Health—the parent company for Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages® Regional Hospital—hip replacement surgery is more popular and more prevalent than ever.

“These days, people from their 40s into their 80s are getting hip replacement surgery because they want to enjoy a full, active life free from pain,” says Dr. Ollivierre. Unlike traditional hip replacement surgeries where the hip is accessed from the side or the back, Dr. Ollivierre performs surgeries using the more advanced anterior approach. The anterior approach is a tissue-sparing alternative that can mean less pain, faster recovery and improved mobility because the muscle tissues are spared during the surgical procedure.

“Because I don’t have to detach muscles from the hip joint, incisions are smaller and there’s less trauma to the surrounding tissues, so recovery is faster with less chance of hip dislocation,” explains Dr. Ollivierre. “Patients are usually up and walking the same or next day, and able to go home after only one or two days in the hospital. It’s remarkable!”

True anterior approach hip replacement demands specific training and specialized surgical equipment and implants. Dr. Ollivierre was the regional pioneer for this procedure, being the first local surgeon to specialize in it.

Surgery is performed in stateof-the-art surgical suites on a customized operating table called a HANA arthroplasty table, which allows for precise placement of the leg. The hospitals also offer laminar flow operating rooms and the surgeons wear specially designed hoods that keep their airflow contained and reduce the likelihood of infection – a complication avoided at all costs. Dr. Ollivierre works together with the skilled orthopedic teams at Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages® Regional Hospital. The hospital programs focus on wellness and rehabilitation. With pre-operative educational classes, personal coaches, dedicated Joint Care Coordinators, and group therapy sessions, speedy recoveries are an everyday occurrence.

“If pain is significantly affecting your quality of life, it’s worth it to investigate every opportunity to get back to being active and promoting better physical health and emotional well-being,” concludes Dr. Ollivierre. “It gives me great satisfaction to help so many patients achieve that goal.”

LEARN MORE…

To learn more about The Joint Center at Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages® Regional Hospital, please visit us online at www.CentralFloridaHealth.org.