Hip replacement surgery used to mean several days in the hospital and a long rehabilitation. Now, with minimally invasive surgery being performed at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC), that’s changed. So have patients’ attitudes about the operation.

More patients are asking for the surgery. And more patients are younger than had been in the past. Stephen Gonzalez, 57, of Birdsboro (cover photo), had the surgery at PMMC and has returned to the things he loves to do following his hip replacement.

Patients are asking for it at a younger age because they want to be more active.

Who is a candidate?

A patient who has arthritis or any condition that destroys the joint can be a candidate for a hip replacement. With minimally invasive hip surgery, no muscle is cut so patients stay in the hospital two to three days instead of three to four days and rehabilitation lasts about a month instead of up to a year. In addition, prostheses last longer than older models.

It used to be 10 years. That’s no longer the case.

Now, artificial hips last 20 to 40 years – maybe even longer. The studies are ongoing.