Five years ago, Bob, a 59-year-old mechanic, was told that he needed hip surgery due to arthritis. Fearful of possible complications and the need for multiple procedures, he did what he thought was best – nothing. He had decided to deal with his pain and hoped it would “all go away.”

Fast-forward to 2013, when Bob realized he was finally at his breaking point. The original pain had now begun to affect his back and was so severe that he could not bend down to tie his own shoes. “Ok,” Bob said to his wife, “it’s time.”

Bob spoke with his sister in California, who had just undergone a procedure for the same condition. She was the first one to tell him of Anterior Hip Replacement Surgery, including how it was different from the standard Posterior Hip Replacement Surgery. The anterior approach is vastly different, as it is minimally invasive and requires only a small incision between the muscles. In this way, the muscles can remain in tact and do not need to be cut and reattached. There are fewer risks associated with this type of procedure, and recovery time is quicker. The entire process takes only a few hours, so the patient can avoid a hospital stay and potential exposure to additional infections.

The only concern for Bob at this point was finding a surgeon who not only knew of the procedure, but also possessed the required expertise.

After an internet search, Bob found Dr. Kayiaros at University Orthopaedic Associates and decided there could be no better fit for his procedure. Dr. Stephen Kayiaros is a specialist in outpatient anterior hip replacement having received specialized training in this unique procedure during his fellowship. After meeting with Dr. Kayiaros, Bob immediately knew he had found his surgeon. He booked his surgery that day, eager to get back to a pain-free life.

According to Bob, “I got there around 6 a.m., and by 1 p.m. I was on my way home. No other patients were there; all the focus was on me.”. One day prior to surgery, Bob had been able to meet with the entire OR team, so that he felt very comfortable with familiar faces. The procedure itself lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes, and was done entirely with just a four-inch incision. This was done as an out-patient procedure so Bob was able to go home the same day. Following standard posterior hip replacement surgery, a patient must follow strict guidelines regarding movement for the first six to eight weeks. This is much different with the anterior hip replacement procedure with Dr. Kayiaros at UOA. “Oh no, as soon as I was awake, they wanted me up and moving,” remembers Bob.

Following the procedure, Bob received a personalized physical therapy program, initially consisting of two weeks of in-house PT, followed by one month of outpatient PT. The rehabilitation is proving so helpful, that now, five weeks after surgery, Bob is almost at 100%, and able to walk over two miles, lacing up his own shoes before the activity.

“The entire team is just fantastic, really trustworthy and knowledgeable. I was completely reassured after talking with Dr. Kayiaros, and would highly recommend him and UOA to everyone.”

To schedule your own surgery or consultation with Dr. Kayiaros, call 732-537-0909 today.