hip resurfacing for young rheumatoid patient

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I am a 40 year old female rheumatoid arthritis patient who has been advised that I need a new hip due to wearing down of the cartilage. I am only in moderate pain at present but have been advised that this could change rapidly. I live in England and am keen to find out about whether a hip resurfacing operation would be a suitable alternative to a THR. I am due to see the local orthopaedic surgeon in April and would like to go to the appointment armed with plenty of information. If anyone can tell me anything at all I'd be grateful.

-- julie dickins (judickins@aol.com), March 01, 2003

Answers

Julie, I'd say you're pretty lucky because England is one of the countries where many of the resurfacing procedures have been done. In Birmingham at the Royal Orthopedic Hospital, Drs. Treacy & McMinn have done a lot of them. I don't know about how it works with rheumatoid arthritis, but there are some very good websites & discussion groups. Try these:

www.activejoints.com - very informative site put up by a resurfaced hipster

http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/surfacehippy/ - lots of good personal experience information

www.totallyhip.org - primarily about THR, but also has resurface discussions & information on the site

www.corin.co.uk - one of the manufacturers

If you put "hip resurf" into a search engine, you'll get lots more.

I have just begun this expedition for an osteoarthritic hip, but am in the US with fewer options readily available, but I'm pursuing it with all my energy.

Good luck.

-- Barbara Robertson (barbara_robertson@ryderscott.com), March 05, 2003.


Hip resurfacing is a new procedure. We have limited data as to its ultimate success. Nonetheless, I think it is a reasonable alternative considering your age.

-- Timothy S. Johnson, M.D. (tjohns55@jhmi.edu), April 23, 2003.

I was 47 when I had a Hip Resurfacing operation. I had been in considerable pain which had gradually got worse over 6 years. The operation was carried out by Sarah Muirhead Allwood at the Princess Grace Hospital in January. I have not been in any pain since the operation, it is fantastic. Sarah Muirhead Allwood has a fantastic reputation for this type of surgery and for complete hip replacements. If my left hip needs surgery in the years to come, or if I need full hip replacements I would want Sarah Muirhead Allwood to carry out the surgery.

-- Joye Godfrey (joye@joyegodfrey.com), April 30, 2004.

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