Joint replacement is one of the most successful procedures in modern medicine. The surgical treatment of hip arthritis and other disorders by hip replacement is typically very reliable in reduction of pain and improvement in function.  Total (also known as full or complete) hip replacement (THR) involves removal of the ball of the hip joint and resurfacing of the socket portion where the hip articulating surfaces are exposed, usually due to severe cartilage wear or joint damage.  The ball and socket are replaced with metal on both sides, and a durable plastic placed in between.  As such, there is no more bone rubbing on bone, but rather metal articulating with a new plastic bearing, thereby re-establishing the joint mechanics and dimensions.  This website is intended to provide information regarding total hip replacement, less invasive surgery, risks and benefits of the procedure, outpatient joint replacement, and state-of-the-art surgical techniques.

Anterior hip replacement is a surgical approach which promotes possible faster recovery through a muscle-sparing technique. Rather than cutting muscle, this approach goes in-between natural muscle planes, thereby causing less trauma, less pain, and providing a more stable hip joint. In our rapid recovery program, all patients ambulate the day of surgery and are able to go home the same, or next day, after surgery.  Since 2019, anterior approach is the most commonly performed hip technique in the US, and growing.  It is the preferred approach by current and leading hip specialists. The anterior approach provides advantages including faster recovery, lower risk of hip instability, and uniquely using xray during the surgery to optimize implant sizing, and placement, and leg length restoration (other approaches don't use xray until in the recovery room).

It is important to speak to a surgeon who has experience and actively performs the surgery to understand the technique.  We are the only surgeons at the Institute to have performed this anterior hip surgical approach. More information is available on the anterior hip replacement page.

⇒ Read about patient's experiences after joint replacement at Sah Orthopaedic Associates in Testimonials, or see Patient's Stories after surgery to learn more. ⇐

Read a patient's experience with hip replacement in this article:

For more information, read this PDF below:

Hip Committees and Research

• Co-Director, Institute for Joint Restoration and Research, Washington Hosp, 2012 – present
• Director, Outpatient Joint Replacement Program, Washington Hosp, 2014 – present
• Chair, Department of Orthopedics, Washington Hospital, 2012 - 2015
• Chair, IJRR Research and Education Committee, Washington Hospital, 2012 – present
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Adult Hip Pilot CME Program, 2012
• Progam Co-Director, VuMedi, Hip & Knee Program, SF Event, 2015
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Hip Program Committee, 2016 – present
• Emerging Leader, American Orthopedic Association Emerging Leaders Forum, Seattle, 2016
• Writing Panel, Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip, AAOS, 2017

Hip Presentations

• Alexander Sah, "Best practices in patient education and satisfaction for Total Joint Arthroplasty", Presentation at Palacademy Webinar, 2020
• Alexander Sah, "How much hip motion is used in real-life activities? Assessment of hip flexion by a wearable sensor and implications after THA", Poster at Orthopedics Today Annual Meeting, Hawaii, 2020
• Alexander Sah, "Implant Size and Outcome Differences in Staged Bilateral THA in 300 Patients", Presentation at Western Orthopedic Association Annual Meeting, Monterey 2019
• Alexander Sah, "Even in the same patient, not all hips are the same- Implant size and outcome differences in staged Bilateral Hip replacements in 300 patients", Poster at AAOS Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, 2019
• Alexander Sah, "Updates in Hip Replacement- Surgical approaches and Controversies", Presentation at PhysicalTherapy.com, 2018
• Alexander Sah, "First report of early results of a commonly used cementless single tapered femoral component in primary total hip arthroplasty", Presentation at Western Orthopedic Association Annual Meeting, CO , 2018
• Alexander Sah, "Pain Management in Revision hip replacement", Presentation at Advisory Board on Hip Surgery, Atlanta, 2018
• Alexander Sah, "What's New in Joint Replacement", Moderator of Arthroplasty Section at COA Annual Meeting, SF, 2018
• Alexander Sah, "To Cement or not to Cement? Modern Hybrid Total Hip Replacement- Low risks and excellent results with cemented femoral fixation", Presentation at AAOS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, 2018
• Alexander Sah, “Using Technology to Improve Patient Perioperative Care”, Presentation at CA Orthopedic Assoc Annual Meeting, Carlsbad, 2017
• Alexander Sah, “My Decision to Start Anterior Hip Replacement”, Presentation at Anterior Hip Foundation Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, 2017
• Alexander Sah, “To Cement or not to Cement? Modern Hybrid Total Hip Replacement - Low risks and excellent results with cemented femoral fixation”, Poster at AAHKS Annual Meeting, Dallas, 2016
• Alexander Sah, “Pain Management in Total Hip Arthroplasty", Presentation at West Regional Recon Hip and Knee Meeting, San Francisco, 2016
• California Orthopedic Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, 2017 (program co-chair)
• Anterior Hip Foundation Meeting, Las Vegas 2017
• California Orthopedic Association Annual Meeting, Laguna Niguel, 2016
• Contemporary Solutions in Joint Surgery, Newport Beach, 2016
• 3^rd Annual ICJR Pan Pacific Orthopedic Congress, Hawaii, 2016
• Center of Leadership, 2016-present
• West Regional Hip and Knee Reconstruction Meeting, SF, 2016
• 4^th Annual Utah Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Symposium 2016