Muscle-sparing technique now available for selected patients, expanding hip replacement options in the city
Dehradun: Hari Ram Kohli Memorial Hospital has introduced the Direct Anterior Approach (DAA) for total hip replacement, a technique in which the hip joint is reached from the front of the body. It is now being performed in selected patients.
Total hip replacement is an established treatment for severe arthritis, avascular necrosis, joint degeneration, persistent pain and difficulty in walking. In the procedure, the damaged hip joint is replaced with an artificial implant.
How DAA differs
In conventional hip replacement, surgeons usually approach the joint from the back or the side. In DAA, the surgeon reaches the joint from the front through a natural interval between muscles. The technique aims to minimise disruption to major muscles and surrounding soft tissue, which is why it is often described as “muscle-sparing.”
In selected patients, this may make early walking and a return to routine daily activities relatively more comfortable.
Approach is only one factor
The success of a hip replacement does not rest on the surgical approach alone. Correct implant positioning, restoration of leg length, bone quality, infection prevention and proper rehabilitation are equally important.
Hospital’s orthopaedic services
Hari Ram Kohli Memorial Hospital has treated bone and joint disorders in Dehradun for several decades. It offers hip and knee replacement, arthroscopy, sports injury treatment, fracture care and other complex orthopaedic procedures.
The hospital has a modular operation theatre, digital X-ray, C-arm and modern arthroscopy equipment. Its surgical, anaesthesia, nursing and rehabilitation teams work together to provide coordinated care. Services are also available under government and insurance schemes, including CGHS and ECHS.
An added option, not a replacement
The hospital says DAA is not meant to replace conventional techniques but to widen the surgical options available, based on each patient’s condition.
The goal of any hip replacement remains the same: to reduce pain, provide a stable joint, improve mobility and achieve a safe, durable outcome.
