UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS WITH MINIMALLY INVASIVE HIP REPLACEMENTS Daniel Le, MD, orthopedic surgeon and joint specialist at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, is demonstrating that a less invasive approach to hip surgery can significantly impact patient outcomes from both a clinical and holistic perspective. At Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, Le continues to be one of the few orthopedic surgeons in the United States currently performing minimally invasive hip replacement procedures by way of a micro-posterior approach. Using the HipXpert mechanical navigation system, together with the supercapsular percutaneously assisted total hip (SuperPATH) approach, Le has performed more than 250 hip replacements for patients who had a rapid recovery without any dislocation sequelae. “The acetabular component is very hard to position by hand,” Le said. “The HipXpert allows me to get a reference point based on a CT scan of the patient’s pelvis, and a 3-D model based on that scan. The HipXpert resembles a sextant. It is docked on the patient’s pelvis based on certain landmarks, and then I geometrically determine where the cup needs to point.” Le uniquely combines the HipXpert with the innovative SuperPATH technology. This supercapsular approach spares the soft tissue structures and does not require hip dislocation/relocation when performing the hip replacement. The SuperPATH procedure builds the tools and traditional hip implant in-situ, which also prevents the need for unnatural positioning during surgery. Superior outcomes for Le’s hybrid procedure have placed Houston Methodist Willowbrook in a position of leadership for hip replacement surgery. “Our work in subspecialized joint reconstruction care has led to Houston Methodist Willowbrook being designated as a Center of Excellence by BlueCross and BlueShield, as well as the Boeing Company,” Le said.
Daniel Le, MD
The SuperPATH procedure builds the tools and traditional hip implant in-situ, which also prevents the need for unnatural positioning during surgery. houstonmethodist.org/orthopedics