What is the newest innovation in hip replacement?

One of the newest innovations in hip replacement surgery is the route with which you get into the hip joint itself.  Traditionally in hip replacement surgery an incision that is eight inches long or so is placed over the posterior aspect of your hip, and they cut through the muscle to approach the hip joint.  More recently some surgeons have been doing the surgery where we go in the front of the hip going in an interval in between the muscle such that we’re able to replace the hip without having to cut the muscle.  What many of us have seen in changing to doing it this way is patients seem to have less pain, faster recovery, and less narcotic use after surgery.  With this newer way most folks are only using a walker for about a week after surgery.