For years, the standard treatment for patients with osteoarthritis or advanced wear and tear in both hips followed a nearly invariable pattern: first one joint was operated on, and months later, the other. This model involved “two hospital admissions, two recovery processes, and a prolonged period in which the patient continued to suffer significant limitations,” explains Dr. Soler Valero.
In contrast to this traditional approach, the specialist has championed a new approach to hip surgery: operating on both hips at the same time, in a single operation. This shift in practice offers a potentially faster path to recovery for those experiencing debilitating hip pain.
This procedure represents more than just a reduction in time. it’s a new way of understanding treatment, supported by advances in orthopedic surgery, anesthesia, and surgical planning. Thanks to these medical advancements, it is now possible to perform bilateral hip replacements in a single surgical procedure for selected patients. The result is a more efficient treatment, with less overall impact on the patient’s life and a faster, safer recovery.
Dr. Soler’s pioneering contribution is further enhanced by the leverage of minimally invasive techniques during this simultaneous surgery. At his clinic, a national reference center for hip replacements, the direct superior approach is employed—a technique that allows access to the joint while largely respecting muscles and tissues. This detail is crucial, as less surgical damage translates to less pain after the procedure, less inflammation, less bleeding, and a reduction in the risk of complications, ultimately facilitating a more comfortable and quicker recovery.
One of the most innovative aspects of this approach is that patients can get up and walk just hours after surgery, potentially obtaining hospital discharge within 24 hours. This rapid recovery not only improves the patient experience but too reinforces the idea of less aggressive surgery focused on restoring functionality as quickly as possible.
The benefits of operating on both hips at the same time are particularly clear when both joints exhibit significant wear and tear. Instead of undergoing two separate operations and two rehabilitations, the patient goes through a single postoperative period. So less total time away from work, fewer duplicated rehabilitation sessions, and a faster return to daily activities. But it’s not just a matter of time; by treating both hips simultaneously, the patient begins recovery with a more balanced biomechanics from the start, preventing one hip from limiting the progress of the other.
This benefit directly translates to quality of life. Many patients arrive at surgery after years of living with chronic pain, difficulty walking, sleep problems, and a progressive loss of autonomy. With this simultaneous intervention, the change can be radical in just a few weeks. As accumulated experience shows, “the goal is not only to eliminate pain, but to restore the patient’s independence and their lifestyle,” assures Dr. Soler. It’s about regaining the ability to walk normally, rest without pain, and resume daily activities that were previously impossible.
The Traumatología Soler clinic is a pioneer in bilateral hip surgery using a minimally invasive technique. / .
The excellent results are not only due to the approach but also to the applied technology. Notably, the direct superior approach used by Dr. Francisco Soler has virtually no infection or dislocation rates, leading him to perform almost all interventions using this approach, achieving more than 1500 successful cases in recent years.
In Traumatología Soler, they perform an individualized preoperative planning where the choice of implant, always from leading global brands and materials of the highest quality, is essential to achieve the best result. The process is complemented by digital analysis tools and always with planning in three dimensions to adapt the prosthesis to each patient’s anatomy. This level of precision makes surgery a “faster, safer, and more predictable” procedure, explains the doctor, something that influences both clinical outcomes and the confidence with which the patient faces the operation.
In addition to this patient care, there is also an critical research component. Dr. Francisco Soler Valero has conducted a study that will be published in “HIP International” and “Journal Ortopedics”, two of the most important international scientific journals in the world for hip surgery and traumatology. The research analyzes and compares three of the current main surgical approaches—posterior, anterior, and direct superior—and studies their impact on key variables such as tissue damage, prosthesis stability, functional recovery, postoperative pain, and the speed of mobility recovery.
The future publication of this work represents international recognition of the value of a career that combines surgical innovation, research, and patient-centered care. This balance is what defines the relevance of Dr. Soler as a pioneer: having championed a way of operating on both hips at the same time that reduces the impact of treatment and accelerates the patient’s return to normal life.
Advanced Hip Surgery Unit – Dr. Francisco Soler Clinic
Specialists in minimally invasive hip replacement and simultaneous bilateral surgery
Phone: 647582708
