Hip resurfacing to THR during surgery

[Aerial]

How many people have gone into surgery hoping for a hip resurfacing and ending up with a THR?  If you received a THR, what was found during surgery that prevented hip resurfacing?  Has this happened with anyone who has used Dr. Gross?  It just dawned on me that if this happens your doctor better be pretty skillful at THRs also.

[ScubaDuck]

I asked my surgeon, Dr. Pritchett in Seattle, how often he had to change to a THR after starting an HR procedure.  He said he had never had to change in over 2600 HRs he has done. 

I suspect that the more experienced doctors can handle more difficult HRs and can also figure out which patients are not good candidates beforehand.

Dan

[jjmclain]

My surgeon also told me that there is always the possibility that it could end up as a THR, but when I asked him how often that happened for him, he said never. So I agree with Dan's point of view. You need to be prepared for the possibility, but most surgeons recognize what they can and can't handle regarding resurfacing prior to surgery.

[Tin Soldier]

I agree with Dan, oh and Pritchett said the same thing to me.  Ask Gross and see what he says, I bet he may say the same thing.

[pjh1765]

I was also given the same warning pre-op, but I honestly feel they need to to inform you of this possibility just as a precaution.  In my case, there were some cysts on the femoral head as detected by my MRI and X Ray and if those cysts (or holes) were either too large or in the way of the planned BHR, a THR would be necessary.

[FlbrkMike]

My surgeon also gave me the same warning, but told me he had never had to switch.

[Anniee]

Dr. Gross told me the same thing, but that the possibility of his having to switch to THR was practically non-existent.  I don't remember if he told me if he ever had to perform an unplanned THR.  It was not something I was concerned about, once he told me he would have no problem performing the resurfacing surgery on me.  If you are worried, ask him during your appointment.  All the resurfacing surgeons also do THR's, which is technically much less difficult than resurfacing.  I don't think you need to be at all concerned whether Dr. Gross has the necessary skills to do a THR.

[newdog]

Dr. Gross said it happened to him once that he had to switch and it was for something very unusual with that patient. I can't remember if he told me what the reason was. I didn't ask him about it, he just mentioned it when we were talking during my pre-op visit. He knows going into surgery what the patient's bone is like. Like Annie, I was not at all concerned about it. I didn't even think about it when I woke up.