Six weeks post op Help !!!

Pat Walter · December 10, 2008, 10:01:10 PM

Hi Bionic

I realize you found the paper where Dr. Mont said hemi - resurfacing is used in some cases. I am not sure how many he has done recently. It is a good question that I need to ask him.

My opinions are based on what I have heard doctors say and past reading about the failures of hemi-resurfacing. It if was so good - why in the world did they bother to design total hip resurfacing with both components? The failures of the hemis is why total hip resurfacing was developed. The doctors realized metal against bone was not a good situation.

I am not medically trained - but my personal opinion would be to get a full resurfacing and make sure I had a good MOM bearing surface in my hip.

I have also read that most hemis can't not be converted to total hip resurfacings because they were done early on and did not have matching components. Also the caps were not required to be as acurately placed as when doing a complete hip resurfacing.

Personally, I don't think I would let any doctor sell me on one knowing what I know now.

That doesn't help a person that has one. They actually worked long term from some people, I would have to look the statistics up - but they were not considered a sucessful surgery. That is the reason so many modern Orthopedic surgeons think poorly of hip resurfacing - they know about the hemis that did not do well. I had one surgeon tell me how terrible resurfacing was and he did not even realize that modern hip resurfacing requireds both a femoral cap and acetabular cup.

It was a failured technology in most surgeons minds based on the poor statistics and the survival rates. I will try to find the old studies.

Pat

hawaiieric · December 11, 2008, 01:27:18 PM

Bionic,

If you knew your operation was going be redone 10 years from now, and your going to go through all this again, will you choose that operation? It is not easy recovering when you simply are not 100% for weeks, and then to realize that the operation only had 60% success at 10 years or 80% at 5...I want to outlive my operation for I am 43, but its your choice on what you chose, or now what you seem to promote.

Eric
RBHR 11/3/08

stevel · December 11, 2008, 01:28:52 PM

There is a lot of ignorance in the orthorpedic and general medical community in the US about total hip resurfacing replacement. My local OS told me I wasn't a candidate for hip resurfacing since I had bone spurs in the acetabulum and some extending into the femoral neck. He must have been referring to the hemi-resurfacing since a total resurfacing reams out the acetabulum and installs a new metal socket.

Our local ski area manager supposedly had his hip resurfaced a week after mine by a different doctor. When we compared scars at the health club, he only had a 1 inch anterior incision. He said the doctor removed material from his right hip ball/socket and installed new material. He had an arthroscopic procedure. Somehow several people told me he had his hip resurfaced. What a misnomer!

If patients have a lot of confidence in their doctor, they will get something that may not be appropriate. Thank god for the information on this website and others. A patient can research the options, question the top hip resurfacing doctors via the chat room and decide what procedure, doctor and hospital is best for them.

Bionic · December 11, 2008, 01:42:23 PM

I will wait until we hear back from Dr. Mont (via Pat) before I comment again on hemi's. But I don't think anyone will object to my answering this question.

As a 47 year old male with great bone stock and no history of kidney problems, I would certainly never choose a hemi-resurfacing as long as a total resurfacing was available. Period.

If I had kidney problems, which would make it hard for me to process the ions, I would probably have to look at some other technology, such as metal on poly THR, ceramic THR, or hemi resurfacing. Hemi would be appealing at that point only as a means for delaying THR and subsequent revision THR.

Since I am an excellent candidate for HSR, I would settle for nothing less. But not everyone is an excellent candidate. Was SkySue?

Quote from: hawaiieric on December 11, 2008, 01:27:18 PM
Bionic,

If you knew your operation was going be redone 10 years from now, and your going to go through all this again, will you choose that operation? It is not easy recovering when you simply are not 100% for weeks, and then to realize that the operation only had 60% success at 10 years or 80% at 5...I want to outlive my operation for I am 43, but its your choice on what you chose, or now what you seem to promote.

Eric
RBHR 11/3/08

skysue34 · December 11, 2008, 09:18:18 PM

Hi All,

I hope that I have not opened a can of worms. Bottom line, I really do not know why my Doc didn't do a full, As I said earlier in another post, I blame myself more than the Dr. I was totally unprepared and just did what he said. I just assumed that he was the Dr. and he knows what he is talking about. I have realized that is not always the case.
I did have the aurothoscopy first, and that did not work, then he said that he was going back in to resurface and put a cap on the femur. I just did not know enough about the procedure. As far as I know I am totally healthy, no kidney problems.. maybe just a few extra Lb"s due to my inactivity over the last few years. (but I can still fit through the window exit so I guess I am still OK! LOL) Anyway, like I said yesterday, I really appreciate all of the kindness, concern, and knowledge that I have learned, and should I have problems from this, I will certainly be better prepared for whats next. This was a very valuable lesson for me to learn. ???

Hope all is well with everyone . Take care

Sue