7 Healthcast: Revolutionary hip replacement surgery

Neely Nower, 64, was an avid runner for years, but then arthritis set in along with terrible pain. She needed a hip replacement and doctors determined that she was a perfect candidate for the new micro hip surgery.

"The micro hip procedure is a muscle sparing way to do a total hip replacement," Dr. Doug Unis, of St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, said.

The procedure involves a single, small incision, approximately four inches, that is made directly over an intramuscular interval at the front of the hip. Unlike previous procedures that cut through muscle and tendon, with the micro hip, the surgeon manually spreads two muscles to gain access to the hip capsule.

"We don't dislocate the hip joint as you do with a traditional hip replacement, the hip joints never dislocate, so it's probably a little less dramatic than a traditional hip replacement." Dr. Unis said. "You make the cut in the femur without doing any dislocation."

Instead, the leg is positioned so the ball of the hip can be removed while still in the socket. Diseased bone and cartilage from the socket is removed and a metal socket is implanted.

"People have a much faster recovery with this surgery, they're usually up and walking the day of surgery with either a crutch or just a cane," Dr. Unis said.

Within just five days of the micro hip surgery, Neely was off crutches and resumed her usual activities.

"You're bed ridden much longer with the other procedures, Neely said.

Most patients can go home two days after surgery and return to work in seven to ten days after surgery.