The anterior approach for hip replacement maximizes the preservation of muscle around the hip and maintains the anatomical relationship of the body. This approach lets the surgeon reach the hip joint from the front of the body instead of from the back or side and with only a 3- to 4-inch incision. The benefits of the anterior approach are:

• Pain is minimized
• Faster recovery
• Fewer complications such as hip dislocation
• Unrestricted mobility after surgery
• Advances in hip replacement parts means the part will most likely last a lifetime
• Unrestricted mobility after surgery
• Advances in hip replacement parts means the part will most likely last a lifetime

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.

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. 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 more than 1,500 primary anterior hip replacements. 

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.