Jason Jackson knew he needed hip replacement surgery.

He was diagnosed with avascular necrosis, which disrupts the blood supply to the bone, causing bone breakdown. As a result, Jason’s pain forced him to use a cane to get around. The only way to stop his pain was to replace his hip joint.

“When my hips started giving out, I thought I’d never walk again,” says Jason. But within two years, both of Jason’s hips were replaced, reducing his pain and restoring his active lifestyle. Dr. Michael Welker, a Kettering Health orthopedic surgeon, performed both total joint hip replacements using the anterior incision approach.

“Dr. Welker was amazing and helped take away my fear,” says Jason. “He helped me know what to expect and took the time to listen to me. And the hospital made me feel like I was their only patient.”

Jason’s post-operative recovery was minimal because the hip replacement was performed through an anterior approach, which goes through less muscle than other procedures.

“However, not everyone is a candidate,” says Dr. Welker. “Jason was a perfect candidate for anterior hip replacement. He is young and wanted to get back to activity as soon as possible. The anterior approach gave him a faster rehab because it causes less soft tissue damage.”

After Jason’s second hip replacement, his rehab was complete in just three weeks. Even for candidates older than Jason, the anterior approach offers reduced recovery time.

“I am thankful to be active with my family again. No cane, no crutches, and I have a pain-free life,” says Jason. “I can walk around King’s Island with my kids—and not be in pain.”

Jason not only walks without pain, but he is also returning to some of his favorite activities. “I’m back out on the green playing golf,” he says.

4 points to ponder

When selecting your surgeon and hospital for joint surgery, you want the best. Consider these crucial points:

1. Medical Oversight
   Does the hospital have a hospitalist or internist who sees you pre-operatively and throughout your hospital stay to manage any medical conditions you might have? At Kettering Health, hospitalists and internists see you during your pre-operation visit, clear you for surgery, and then follow you post-operatively to oversee your medical care while in the hospital.
2. Pre-operative Joint Education
   Make sure you receive pre-operative education on what to expect, along with a joint replacement patient education handbook that tells you everything you need to know about your joint surgery. At Kettering Health, this education is provided by a nurse, physical therapist, and occupational therapist. Our surgeons help develop our patient education books.
3. Experience Matters
   Kettering Health surgeons perform the highest volume of joint replacement surgeries in the Greater-Dayton area.
4. A Cohesive Team
   Have your surgery performed at a hospital where the entire team works closely together to give you a successful outcome. Kettering Health team members from pre-admission testing and education, nursing, therapy, surgery, and pain management all meet with the surgeons to make continuous process improvements.