Can a Hip that has been pinned be resurfaced?

[Pat Walter]

I have recently discovered your website and appreciate your efforts to
bring all this information together!!

I have a question that I'm not sure if you or your network can help me
with.

I fractured my hip in 1999 and as a result I have 3 screws in my hip and
into the Hip Ball.
Between arthritis and a previous bout of AVN am in constant pain and
Physically limited.
Because I'm only 44 I have been advised to wait until age 50 to get a
total hip replacement.

My question is has anyone had a successful Hip Resurfacing on a Hip that
has been Pinned?

Thanks!!

Bill

[Pat Walter]

Hi Bill

I am sorry to hear about your hip pain at such an early age.

I am not medically trained, but have learned a lot of hip resurfacing from
much research.  I also had my hip resurfaced in March 2006 with Dr. De Smet
of Belgium.

My advice to you is to write to several of the best hip resurfacing surgeons
in the world and discuss your case with them.  Dr. Bose of India and Dr. De
Smet of Belgium will both give you a free email consultation if you attache
a copy of your x-rays to the email.  If you don't have copies of your x-rays
in digital format, you can still write to them to ask them what they think.
They both are very good at answering questions, usually very quickly, and
have a great deal of knowledge about AVN and difficult hip problems. The
overseas doctors are much different the the US doctors, they talk to you
just like a person and will answer any question.

I know many people now want to use doctors here in the US since the FDA
approved the BHR here in May 2006, but you still need to find a really
expereinced surgeon for difficult cases. There are some in the US, but most
don't give free consultations.

I think Dr. De Smet and Bose would be a great starting place for you and it
won't cost any money or travel.  They are very honest and would not give you
a hip resurfacing if they felt it was not possible.

Here is their information:

Dr. Koen De Smet
ANCA-Clinic
Kalverbosstraat 31A
9070 Heusden
BELGIUM
Phone: +(1)32 9 2525903
Fax: +(1)32 9 2526457
+1 for USA & Canada:
E-mail: helpdesk@heup.be
ANCA Clinic Website



Dr. Vijay C. Bose
BHR Regional centre - India
Apollo Speciality Hospital, 320, Mount Road, Chennai - 600035. INDIA
E-Mail: bose5vijay@hotmail.com
Telephone: 0091-44-(0) 98400 - 32251
Hip Resurfacing India Website


If you are not a candidate for hip resurfacing, the new MOM large ball hip
devices are very good options.  You don't have much problem with dislocation
since they are the same size as your original femur ball. I will tell you
that waiting to get your hip replaced until you are older is not the best
advice.  I understand pain and how it stops your life.  The surgery
techniques for revising THR's is getting much better and the results are
good in the hands of very experienced surgeons.

You should not continue to live your life in pain. You were given a life to
live and you need to get on with it. Taking pain meds is  hard on your body
and being physically incapcitated is also very difficult on your body and
emotional well being.

Talk with Dr. Bose and De Smet and gets some input so you know where you
stand and what you can expect. Then decide what doctor you want to use and
which way to go.  I spent $16,000 total on my credit card to go to Dr. De
Smet because he is absolutely one of the best hip surgeons in the world.  He
has done over 2500 hip resurfacings and over 3000 total hip replacemnts.  He
does many revisions for people that have had botched hips from other
surgeons. When I was in Beligum a lady from CA flew in. She was wheelchair
bound. Her horse had fallen on her and injured her hip.  Her crummy surgeons
goofed it up and she could not walk. After her surgery with Dr. De Smet, she
was walking on curtches and starting to get around again. It was a long
journey for her, but she is doing well know.

Please let me know how things are going for you and if I can help in any
other way. My best advice is always get advice from experienced experts -
especially when it is as easy as writing an email and free.

Pat