Rebuilding Your Body

nospam@example.com (Patricia Walter) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:04:53 -0700

July 2006

At 42, Sally Seeley was barely able to walk. Diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her late 20s, she tried a range of treatments from water aerobics to Vioxx. But her condition only got worse. Finally, an orthopedic surgeon recommended total hip replacement. She worried that she was too young for such surgery, but she just couldn't stand the discomfort any longer. "The pain was gone immediately," says Seeley, now 49. Three months ago, she had her right hip done; she's already back at work.

Joint replacement was once considered a last resort for elderly patients who were immobilized. Now, thanks to improved artificial joints made from longer-lasting materials like titanium, patients in their 50s and younger are signing up in growing numbers. More than 600,000 hip and knee replacements were performed in the United States last year. While the average patient was well over 60 years old, the number of people younger than 65 getting the surgery has grown by 20 percent over the past five years. "Maybe 10 or 15 years ago, the threshold was the ability to walk or do errands," says Dr. Edwin Su, an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. "Now it's continuing to ski, golf or windsurf."

Doctors compare joint replacement to replacing tires on a car that's out of alignment. Over the decades, your weight can wear down your bones. This is especially true for patients with arthritis, where inflammation destroys the cartilage surrounding the joint, causing the bones to grind together painfully. In knee replacements, the most common joint-replacement procedure, doctors cut into the joint and remove the damaged portions of the tibia (the lower leg bone), patella (kneecap) and femur (thigh bone). They are replaced with metal and plastic components. The surgery lasts at least two hours and requires general anesthesia. Artificial knees generally last from 10 to 15 years. Hips are the second most commonly replaced joints, followed by shoulders...

New Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Procedure

nospam@example.com (Patricia Walter) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:09:52 -0700

Link http://www.provena.org/stjoes/body.cfm?id=353&action=detail&ref=287

09/20/2006

When Catherine (Cathy) Holbrook knew the pain in her hip was making daily life more difficult, she opted for a new procedure called the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing to help with her pain.

Her nephew Nathan, who works at Hinsdale Orthopaedics, suggested that she look into the new procedure being done by Robert Daley, MD. Although she lives in Bloomington, she felt the procedure was worth the drive. Since her oldest son was born at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, she was also familiar with the hospital and the area.

"I know Dr. Daley is a really good physician, who concentrates on hips and knees," says Holbrook. "I didn't like having constant hip pain hindering my daily life. My hip was bone on bone with bone spurs, so I had limited flexibility. I wanted the opportunity for less pain and better maneuverability."

"The BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing System is a clinically proven alternative to total hip replacement for physically active patients who are under the age of 65 and suffer from hip arthritis," says Robert Daley, MD. "This includes osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, rheumatoid arthritis, and avascular necrosis. We began performing this procedure at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in July."

According to Dr. Daley, hip resurfacing preserves more of the body's natural bone structures and stability. The benefits of the BIRMINGHAM Hip Resurfacing technique and implant are that the implant's head size, its bearing surfaces, and its bone-sparing technique make it a preferred choice for young active patients. While the implants rate of survivorship is comparable to standard total hip replacements after five years, these three key advantages set the resurfacing technique and implant apart from its total hip replacement counterparts.

"Usually people are around 70 when this happens," says Holbrook. "My hip caused enough pain at night that I had trouble sleeping. If I had to walk a long distance, I would use a cane to ease the pain. I couldn't bend to touch my foot, so I couldn't tie my shoe. At 51, I was feeling a lot older than I should be."

The hip resurfacing technique is less invasive than normal hip replacements as well. A total hip replacement requires the removal of the femoral head and the insertion of a hip stem down the shaft of the femur. Hip resurfacing on the other hand, preserves the femoral head and the femoral neck.

"During the procedure, the surgeon will only remove a few centimeters of bone around the femoral head, shaping it to fit tightly inside the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing implant," says Dr. Daley. "The surgeon will also prepare the hip socket for the metal cup that will form the socket portion of the ball-and-socket joint. While the resurfacing component slides over the top of the femoral head like a tooth cap, the
acetabular component is pressed into place much like a total hip replacement component would be."

"I'm currently going through physical therapy to help regain all the movement and strength of my hip," says Holbrook. "I know I made the right decision in having the procedure done, and that once my recovery is completed, I will be able to participate in activities that I haven't been able to do for the last couple of years."

"This is such a great opportunity for potential hip replacement patients," says Dr. Daley. "With the constant improvements in technology, I am proud to be able to offer, along with Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, one of the most advanced treatments for hip replacement."

Hip Resurfacing News - Articles 06

Rebuilding Your Body

New Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Procedure