Anterior Hip Replacement Perth
Hip Procedures
The hip is one of the body's largest joints, a ball-and-socket structure designed to carry your full weight through decades of movement. When it's working well, you don't think about it. When it's not, almost nothing else gets your attention. Damage can come gradually through wear and degeneration, or suddenly through injury or fracture, and the source of the problem shapes how to treat it.
Whether you're managing early-stage arthritis or you've been told you need a hip replacement, my goal is the same: to find the right solution for you. Getting you moving again with as little disruption as possible.
My fellowship training in anterior approach hip replacement and joint-preserving procedures means I can offer a range of options; from protecting your natural hip, through to full replacement when that's the right clinical decision.
I consult at Subiaco Private Consulting Rooms and St John of God Midland, and operate at Hollywood Private Hospital, Bethesda Health Care, St John of God Subiaco, St John of God Mt Lawley, and St John of God Midland. Referrals from across the Perth metro area and regional WA are welcomed.
Dr David Kerr
Fellowship-Trained Hip Specialist
Procedures
HIP Arthritis & Degeneration
Total Hip Replacement
For patients with advanced hip arthritis or joint destruction, total hip replacement is a reliable operation that reduces pain, restores walking, and reliably gets patients back to most daily activities. The prosthesis replaces the worn ball-and-socket with a durable implant, and modern techniques allow most patients to be weight-bearing on the day of surgery.
Anterior Approach Hip Replacement
The anterior approach accesses the hip joint from the front, working between the natural muscle planes rather than through them. This means less soft tissue disruption, less post-operative pain, and an earlier return to normal activity for most patients. My fellowship training was specifically focused on this technique.
Joint-Preserving Procedures
For younger or more active patients with early-stage arthritis, joint-preserving surgery may delay or avoid the need for replacement entirely. Options, including hip arthroscopy and realignment procedures, are discussed in the context of your imaging, symptoms, age, and long-term activity goals.
My Approach
When Surgery Is the Right Answer
Hip surgery is a significant decision, and I won't recommend it unless the evidence supports it and it's right for you. Before any surgical conversation, I'll review your imaging, understand what your symptoms are limiting, and explore whether non-surgical management is a reasonable first step.
When surgery is the right answer, I'll walk you through the options, the technique, what to expect during recovery, and what the outcomes data shows. You'll leave every consultation with a clear plan.
For Perth patients with private health cover, my rooms can usually schedule an initial consultation within 1 to 2 weeks, with surgery timing dependent on the procedure and your insurer's approval.
No two knees are the same, and no two patients want the same things from surgery. Getting the plan right means understanding both
Dr David Kerr
Perth Hip Specialist
What to Expect After Sports Injury Surgery
Recovery from hip replacement varies by patient and technique, but most people are weight-bearing on the same day or the day after surgery. The anterior approach typically supports a faster return to daily activities than traditional approaches. I'll work with your physiotherapy team throughout your recovery, not just hand you off after the procedure.
My job isn't just to fix the joint, it's to understand what getting back to full movement means for your life and build the plan around that.
Dr David Kerr
Hip Procedures Perth
Frequently Asked Question
Who is the best hip surgeon in Perth?
The phrase "best hip surgeon" is searched often, but the more useful question is who has the right training and experience for your specific problem. For hip surgery in Perth, I would look for a fellowship-trained surgeon who performs the procedure regularly, is comfortable with the full range of options from joint preservation through to replacement, and operates at hospitals that match where you live. I am fellowship-trained in the anterior approach and joint-preserving procedures, and I operate at Hollywood Private Hospital, Bethesda Health Care, St John of God Subiaco, St John of God Mt Lawley, and St John of God Midland. My rooms can usually schedule an initial consultation within 1 to 2 weeks for Perth patients with private health cover.
What is anterior approach hip replacement?
The anterior approach accesses the hip joint from the front, working between the natural muscle planes rather than through them. The practical benefit is less soft tissue disruption, less post-operative pain, and an earlier return to normal activity for most patients. It is not a magic technique. Long-term outcomes depend on accurate implant positioning and sound surgical decision making. My fellowship training was specifically focused on this approach, and it is what I use most often for primary hip replacement in suitable patients.
How long does hip replacement recovery take in Perth?
Most patients are weight-bearing the same day or the day after surgery. The anterior approach typically supports a faster return to daily activities than traditional approaches. Most patients are walking comfortably without aids within 2 to 4 weeks and back to most normal activities within 6 to 12 weeks. Full recovery continues for 6 to 12 months as the muscles around the new hip strengthen. I will give you a timeline specific to your situation before surgery.
How much does hip replacement cost in Perth?
In Australia, hip replacement is typically covered by private health insurance. The out-of-pocket cost varies depending on your insurer, your excess, and whether you have any waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. It also depends on the prosthesis used and any allied care required during recovery. For an accurate quote specific to your situation, contact my rooms at admin@jointsolutions.com.au and we will provide a transparent estimate before you commit to anything.
Am I a candidate for hip replacement or joint-preserving surgery?
It depends on the stage of your arthritis, your age, your activity goals, and what the imaging shows. Joint-preserving options such as hip arthroscopy, labral repair, and realignment procedures can delay or avoid the need for replacement in younger patients with early-stage disease. For more advanced arthritis, total hip replacement is a reliable operation that reduces pain and restores walking. The decision is made together, on imaging and examination, and on your individual goals. If you are a candidate for either path, I will explain both options clearly.
Where can I get a hip replacement in Perth?
I consult at Subiaco Private Consulting Rooms and St John of God Midland Hospital, and I operate at Hollywood Private Hospital, Bethesda Health Care, St John of God Subiaco, St John of God Mt Lawley, and St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals. Patients come from across the Perth metro area and regional Western Australia. Referrals can be sent through Healthlink EDI `jointsln`, by phone to (08) 9243 8133, by mobile to 0447 282 067, or by email to admin@jointsolutions.com.au.
Advice to GPs
Refer early for end-stage hip arthritis
Joint replacement is more straightforward, with better outcomes, in patients who have not fully deconditioned. If your patient has tried conservative management and is no longer getting reliable relief from daily activities, a surgical opinion is worth considering.
Pre-referral workup
Pre-referral workup is helpful even when it is not strictly required. A weight-bearing AP pelvis X-ray and lateral hip X-ray, recent bloods if an inflammatory cause is suspected, and a functional assessment such as the Oxford Hip Score give me a clear starting point. Send imaging through Healthlink or admin@jointsolutions.com.au.
Differential diagnosis matters
Hip pain is often referred or has soft tissue causes. Before referring for hip surgery, consider lumbar spine pathology, trochanteric bursitis (often responds to local corticosteroid injection), gluteal tendinopathy, inguinal hernia, and vascular claudication. A standing AP pelvis X-ray rules out most intra-articular hip pathology.w
Younger patients with early-stage arthritis
Younger patients with early-stage arthritis are often better served by joint-preserving surgery than by total hip replacement. Hip arthroscopy, labral repair, and femoral osteotomy are appropriate for selected patients and may delay replacement by years. Refer early so the conversation can happen before the arthritis becomes too advanced.
Red flags for urgent review
Red flags for urgent review include sudden inability to weight-bear, suspected fracture (especially in osteoporotic patients), rapidly progressive pain, and any suspicious mass. Send these through and I will see them promptly.
How to refer
Healthlink EDI `jointsln`, phone (08) 9243 8133, mobile 0447 282 067, or email admin@jointsolutions.com.au. Routine referrals are reviewed within 5 business days. Urgent referrals are reviewed within 24 hours.
Where care is delivered
I consult at Subiaco Private Consulting Rooms (144 Churchill Ave, Subiaco WA 6008) and at St John of God Midland Hospital (1 Clayton St, Midland WA 6056). Both have on-site parking and are accessible from the Perth metro and northern suburbs.
I operate at five hospitals across Perth:
- Hollywood Private Hospital (Nedlands) — primary site for ACL and sports knee work
- Bethesda Health Care (Claremont) — orthopaedic and surgical hub
- St John of God Subiaco Hospital — established private surgical hospital
- St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital — convenient for northern suburbs patients
- St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals — same-site public and private access
Patients from regional WA are welcomed. If you're referring from a rural practice and the patient needs assistance with travel or accommodation logistics, mention it in the referral letter and my rooms will help coordinate.