Advancements in Hip Replacements Allow for a Faster Recovery

Edward Dufini said his hip would make a clicking noise every time he stood up and it was painful when he moved the wrong way. At 73, he was having a hard time going up and down stairs.

After a hip replacement in February, he is back to playing bocce and his hip doesn’t bother him at all.

He previously had two knee replacements at the Bone & Joint Institute at Hartford HealthCare, so he returned to ask about options for his hip pain. He had arthritis and had manual jobs throughout his life, and admitted his weight was a bit of an issue.

His surgeon, Dan Witmer, MD, with the Bone & Joint Institute, said modern hip replacements are minimally invasive and use computer navigated or robotic surgery to implant the joint, improving recovery time and mobility.

Patients are able to be discharged the morning after surgery, and are back to regular activities six to eight weeks after surgery. He said the recovery time is three months for more athletic activities, such as skiing or tennis.

"We have been using robotics and computer navigation for about a decade, but the biggest recent advancement is the modern hip implants," Dr. Witmer said. "They last more than 30 years, so we can perform the surgery on younger patients."

Read more about hip replacement options on the Hartford HealthCare NewsHub.