For years, many Bahamians living with chronic hip and knee pain faced a difficult choice: endure the pain or travel overseas for advanced and expensive surgical care. However, a groundbreaking new procedure is changing that and offering a path to renewed mobility right here at home. 

A major milestone has been achieved with the introduction of the first outpatient total anterior hip replacement in The Bahamas; it’s a procedure so advanced it can get you back on your feet and home in the same day. Dr. Akin Minnis, an orthopedic surgeon at Sunshine Medical Center, joined Bahamas at Sunrise to discuss the innovative operation. He explained that this direct anterior approach is not only a first for The Bahamas, but also for the wider Caribbean region. The procedure is designed for patients with severe hip or knee pain that hasn't responded to other treatments like medication or injections, especially when it starts to significantly limit their daily activities. "If their function is declining and it's noticeable... these are very good candidates for total hip or knee replacement surgery," Dr. Minis stated.

Amal Ferrier, a recent patient who underwent this procedure, shared his inspiring journey. Before the surgery, simple tasks like getting into a car or tying his shoes were incredibly painful. "Certain movements that we took for granted, it was a lot more painful than it needed to be," he recalled. His experience with the new procedure was surprisingly smooth. "Surgery that morning, out that afternoon," he said. After a short stay at a rehabilitation center, he was walking with support in just three days, with a cane a week after that, and entirely on his own after three weeks. His advice to anyone suffering? "Why wait so long?"

This outpatient approach offers numerous advantages. As Dr. Minis highlighted, patients experience less pain, require fewer narcotics, and face a significantly reduced hospital stay—often home in less than 24 hours. For many, it represents a cost-effective and life-changing opportunity to break free from a cycle of pain and painkillers. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with hip or knee pain, the time to act is now. You don't have to live with the pain or under the influence of drugs.



To get evaluated and see if this surgery is right for you, you can contact Dr. Akin Minnis at Sunshine Medical Center, located on Palmdale Avenue and Bradley Street. Call them at 323-1414 to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a more active and pain-free life.