What's the youngest age you can have BHR or THR?

[sarah.m8171]

Hi, I'm new to this site.
My 13 yr old daughter was diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis by one doctor and Perthes by another just over 2 yrs ago 

Last July she had an External fixator put on; at the same time her consultant did a Core Decompression, the following 3 months were much easier than we expected because she was almost pain free in her hip  unfortunately one of the pins snapped so the Fixator had to be removed.

Jan 08 she was back in the hospital to have a Femoral Osteotomy, since this op she has been in progressively more pain  at her follow up this week her x-ray has shown that the head of the femur has now completely collapsed and the hip is fusing together, her consultant now thinks the only option left is a THR, having looked on the net I see that Hip Resurfacing seems to be the best option if you are a suitable candidate.
If anyone could give me some advice I would very grateful.
Sarah 

[Pat Walter]

Hi Sarah

Welcome to Hip Talk.

I think I responded to you over on the Yahoo Surface Hippy Website. I am the owner/webmaster of this website - Surface Hippy and Hip Talk.  I will post the answer here too so others can see it and in case you might have missed it over on the other group.

Kaibree is the youngest person's story I have posted, she was 14
http://www.surfacehippy.info/kaibree2006.php

Ionnis was also 14   http://www.surfacehippy.info/ioannis.php

Waqqy was 17, but ended up with a THR due to his soft bones
http://www.surfacehippy.info/waqqy07.php

I mentioned I know of another 12 year old and I don't know what she and her parents decided.  Dr. De Smet wanted to do a hip resurfacing, Dr. Gross wanted to do a THR and Mr. McMinn was to fuse her hip.   So the top surgeons in the world could not decided on a unanimous solution.  Sometimes those things happen.

I tell the story so you understand that even the greatest surgeons don't always agree.

I suggested that you could get free email consultations from Dr. De Smet of Belgium, Dr. Bose of India and Mr. McMinn of UK.  Also Dr. Su in NY gives free consulatations along with Dr. Gross of SC.

You can find all their email addresses on my doctors list http://www.surfacehippy.info/listofdoctors.php

If I had a daughter that young with hip problems, I would want to talk with the best in the world and get some really good input on which to make a decision. I think it is wonderful that these great surgeons will consult with you free.

Good Luck.

If you want Kaibree's Mom's email address, drop me an email and I will send it to you.
pwalter@surfacehippy.info

Pat

[Ausag32]

Hey Sarah,
If your daughter's femoral head has completely collapsed and you are told that she is not a candidate because there is not sufficient head left to support the prosthesis, Mr McMinn (Birmingham, U.K.)  can offer her the next best thing in the Birmingham Mid-Head Resection/Resurfacing.