Direct Superior Approach Hip Arthroplasty

The Direct Superior Approach (DSA) is a minimally invasive approach used in total hip replacement surgery. This muscle sparing approach for total hip replacement was developed to minimize damage to the soft tissues and muscles that are critical to the proper function of your hip and leg.

  • The Direct Superior Approach was developed to allow the surgeon to avoid cutting key muscle groups, the most important being the Iliotibial (IT) band and muscles referred to as external rotators.
  • The Direct Superior Approach was developed to be performed through a smaller incision compared to a traditional posterior approach.

Traditional hip replacements often require an incision that is approximately 10-12 inches long. In comparison, the Direct Superior Approach requires an incision that may be 3-6 inches in length. As a result, your scar may be smaller than traditional total hip replacement procedures.