Arthritis patient finds renewed comfort

Rick Knowlden wanted to find relief from the lingering osteoarthritis in his right hip. Osteoarthritis is common in the knees, hands, hips and neck, and causes the tissues in the joint to break down over time.

Osteoarthritis patients feel pain from joint swelling and stiffness, often leading to joint replacement surgery. “I walked with hip pain until I couldn’t,” said Rick. “I was hurting for a few years.”

Rick asked his family doctor to recommend a specialist. He was referred to the Genesis Orthopedic Center where he met Christopher Leibold, D.O., Fellowship-trained and Board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon.

“I shared with Dr. Leibold that I was at the point where it hurt to walk,” said Rick. “Getting out of bed was painful. Fearing the worst, I asked him for the best advice.”

An alternative approach

Dr. Leibold described the steps for a minimally invasive anterior hip replacement. Unlike the traditional posterior approach, which enters from the back of the hip and harms muscles, anterior hip replacement works around the muscles, leaving them attached to the bone.

“For anterior hip replacement, we enter through the front of the hip and the upper part of the thigh,” said Dr. Leibold. “The damaged bone and cartilage are easily removed, and the new hip is placed.”

Concerned about downtime, Rick asked Dr. Leibold about the length of recovery. Since the procedure works around the hip muscles, patients heal faster. They often feel less pain and can walk without assistance sooner than those with traditional posterior surgery.

“Dr. Leibold answered my questions,” said Rick. “It was easy to understand the steps of the procedure.”

An easy decision

“It was an easy decision to have the surgery. I recovered quickly. I give the experience a 10 out of 10.” – Rick Knowlden

Rick had his right hip replaced using the anterior approach in December 2024. He was dedicated to recovering quickly so he could return to his favorite outdoor hobbies, including hunting and fishing.

Learn about Rick’s surgery

An alternative to a traditional posterior hip replacement, the anterior approach locates the hip joint through the groin. Sometimes referred to as a mini-hip replacement, there are several advantages to the anterior approach, including:

• Less disruption to muscles or tendons
• Smaller incision
• Less pain
• Fewer restrictions after surgery
• Less chance of dislocation after surgery
• Walking without assistance sooner
• Increased mobility
• Quicker recovery time
• Less time doing physical therapy

Watch Dr. Leibold explain the benefits and recovery of the anterior approach HERE.

Christopher Leibold, D.O.

Fellowship-trained and Board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon

Genesis Orthopedic Center