Figure 1
The Normal Hip

The hip is a ball and socket type joint comprising the femoral head (ball) and acetabulum (socket). The bearing surfaces of the femoral head and acetabulum are covered by hyaline cartilage which forms a very low friction surface allowing free and painless motion.

Figure 2
The Arthritic Hip

Hip arthritis is a disease that involves the degeneration and loss of the cartilage bearing surface leading to bone-on-bone contact between the femoral head and acetabulum. The patient suffers pain, loss of hip motion and impairment of activities. Total hip replacement is a definitive and effective treatment for hip arthritis.

Figure 3
Background of Anterior Approach Hip Replacement

Anterior approach hip replacement was first performed in Paris, France by Prof. Robert Judet using the Judet orthopedic table. Since the first surgery over 50 years ago this procedure has been performed consistently by a small group of surgeons in Paris including Thierry Judet, son of Robert.

In 1996 Dr. Joel Matta, who had observed anterior hip replacement in Paris, rethought his approach to hip replacement. By abandoning the posterior approach and adopting the anterior approach his goals were: lower chance of dislocation, enhanced recovery rate, and increased accuracy of hip prosthesis placement and leg length.

Dr. Matta is now recognized as originating orthopedic table enhanced anterior hip replacement in North America, as a co-designer of new and improved anterior hip replacement operating room tables, and as making this beneficial procedure more available. (Figure 3)

Surgeons at the Hip and Pelvis Institute performing anterior hip replacement have now achieved the initial goals of reducing dislocation, enhancing recovery, and increasing accuracy through a combined series of over 1500 primary anterior hip replacements.