It has been nearly 5 years since we began a minimally invasive anterior total hip program at Johnston-Willis Hospital. I would like to give some feedback to the community and patients on the results.
The growth in demand for this procedure has been amazing as patients share their experiences with others. In 2015, we performed over 250 anterior total hip replacements, the most in Central Virginia. Furthermore, nearly 20% of our patients travel from outside of the metro Richmond area due to the reputation of the program.
Since the inception of the program, we have seen length of hospital stay decrease from an average of 3 days in 2010 to an average of 36 hours today! The need for blood transfusion after the procedure is now approximately 1-2%, which is an astonishing drop from 2010 data. Most patients are able to go home the day after surgery. We are currently working to develop an outpatient total hip program where selected patients for minimally invasive anterior THA would be able to go home the same day as surgery.
Johnston-Willis Hospital has continued to provide strong support for this program and our patients by purchasing a second Hana Table (specialized table for anterior THA) and providing immediate twice-a-day post-operative physical therapy for our patients. Hip replacement is a life-changing experience for those suffering with debilitating hip arthritis. We feel honored to be able to provide this service to so many patients here in Richmond and want to thank the community for trusting in us!
