SuperPath^® Hip Replacement

SuperPaths are percutaneously-assisted total hip surgery, or SuperPath^® surgery, is a newer, more novel technique of performing a standard total hip arthroplasty where your surgeon utilizes a smaller initial incision and, more importantly, a very limited dissection in the deep tissues. This technique avoids cutting any muscles or tendons and thereby not having to repair them during surgery and wait for them to heal for an extended period postoperatively. This technique performed by cutting through the superior part of the capsule only is also referred to as the northern approach or northern exposure.

The SuperPath^® technique is a restorative technique because it enables the surgeon to utilize specialized instruments and tools to remove the diseased hip and implant the new components while the hip remains in a natural rested position during the surgical procedure. By contrast, traditional techniques require twisting and contorting the lower extremity in order to dislocate the hip joint to perform the surgery, with the possibility of complications such as increased postoperative soreness, all the way to intraoperative fractures of the femur requiring more extensive surgery.

The SuperPATH® approach combines cutting-edge technology and advanced surgical techniques to encourage soft tissue preservation and enables patients to shorten their recovery to weeks, rather than months as in traditional approaches.

Potential advantages of SuperPATH® hip surgery include:

• Less post-operative pain
• Minimal blood loss during surgery
• Minimal scars
• No activity limitations
• Short recovery time
• Greatly reduced dislocation risk
• Patients report a natural feeling hip

What is SuperPath^® Hip Replacement?

The surgical technique for a SuperPath^® Hip Replacement was developed as an advancement to traditional total hip replacement. The SuperPath^® technique is a tissue-sparing procedure which aims to get patients back on their feet within days (possibly hours) instead of weeks or months. A number of patients who have undergone this procedure are able to walk unassisted the day after surgery, and leave the hospital without the typical restrictions (such as crossing their legs) associated with total hip replacement.

SuperPath^® hip replacement is a differentiated total hip technique being performed by a growing number of experienced surgeons.

With SuperPath^®, there is no surgical dislocation of the hip. Patients can also have as little as a 3-inch incision. It is important to understand that “less invasive” does not only refer to the incision but also means less trauma to the muscles and tendons under the skin. A SuperPath^® Hip Replacement is designed to precisely reconstruct the hip without cutting critical tendons and stretching or traumatizing muscles that are important to hip function.

Because of the elimination of damage to these important structures during reconstruction, patients typically have a short hospital stay and a number of patients walk the same day as their surgery.

Learn more about SuperPath^® in the following videos: