Pat:

      I think that I may have misunderstood Dr. Mont's staff in saying that
he had not had a revision or failure.  Vicky Marlow, has provided some
information which makes me hesitate, just a bit, about my full confidence in
using Dr. Mont.

     A couple of questions:

       What has been the overall feeling from folks relating their
experiences on the quality of Dr. Mont's operations?

       While it is not particularly bothersome that he had a high "failure"
rate early on, I am a bit concerned about any trend in the last year to two.

        Vicky brings up an interesting point about anterior versus posterior
entry to resurface. Vicky does not understand why any doctor would use the
posterior approach because it results in a more conservative post surgery
recovery period/rehabilitation restrictions.

         Might the reason for the posterior approach be due to the Conserve
Plus implant he uses?

         Any info you might have would be very much appreciated.


         Thanks,


           Wayne

Hi Wayne

I think you might be confused about the posterior approach.  Most of the
doctors like Dr. Bose and De Smet use the posterior approach. Perhaps you
misunderstood what Vicky had said.  Here are some articles:

http://www.surfacehippy.info/incisionlength.php
http://www.surfacehippy.info/postapproach.php
http://www.surfacehippy.info/approachestosurgery.php

I really don't know Dr. Mont's statistics. I do remember some people having
problems after surgery with him.  But many people do have slow recoveries.
I see from Vicky's list I forwarded to you that he had a femur neck fracture
last year. I don't like the sound of that. But even Dr. Gross had a femur
neck fracture in 2005 - I think.  It seems to happen more with the US
doctors.  I just don't think they have the experience the well known
overseas doctors have, but I am pretty opinionated.

I think you have to go with your gut feeling about doctors.  I personally
just did not want to use any of the US doctors since they don't have the
experience Dr. De Smet or Dr. Bose have. But I am just a picky old person.
Very few people have problems after surgery with these doctors.  But many
people don't want to travel far away.

Even if I needed a revision of my BHR, I would probably fly back to Belgium
to have it done.  I still want one of the best to work on my hips.  Vicky
would not think twice about going back to Dr. Bose either.  You get
confidence in a doctor and don't want to use anyone else.  The hips are so
important to walking properly and I don't want anyone to mess them up that
is not experienced.

The insurance companies often pay for Dr. De Smet's surgeries.  But you have
to pay up front and be reimbursed later.  I think I read on the dicsussion
group that Blue Cross or one of the large insurance companies is going over
to Belgium to see Dr. De Smet and his set up.  That would be a good thing
for future hippies trying to get insurance coverage.

I am sorry I can't tell you more.  I just don't know that much about Dr.
Mont.  Have you met him personally yet? Maybe that would make a difference.
If you do meet him - ask him about the femur neck fracture and why he thinks
it happened. Maybe you will feel better hearing about it from him
personally.

Pat