Any info on MIS?

[shanvey]

My husband is scheduled for traditional hip replacement on 11/7. Our ortho does not do MIS hip replacement. He states that they do not last as long. My husband is only 44 years old and has bilateral avascular necrosis. I work with a physician who had MIS hip replacement last year and he said that he would not do any other type of hip replacement. Any one who has had a MIS hip replacement, please let me know the pros/cons that you know of. We are scheduled with another orthopod (100 miles away) next week to discuss MIS. (he specializes in MIS)

Thanks for any input you can provide!

Sandy

 

[ripanco]

Hi Sandy,

I had simultaneous bilateral MIS, posterior approach, THR a year ago in May. I did a fair amount of research before surgery. I think if I were you, I would definatly travel the distance for a second opinion. If your surgeon is skilled in MIS I do not think that affects the life span of the replacement. And recovery is certainly faster with MIS.

I now believe that the skill of the surgeon is one of the biggest factors in a succesful THR so for me, finding the most experienced would be highly important. My most wonderful OS specializes in hips and does over 360/yr. He did a wonderful job with my hips. It also helps for the patient to be in the best physical condition possible.

For what it's worth, I traveled a good 80 miles to the hospital where my OS practices. It was worth it. Good luck,

Andrea

 

[shanvey]

Andrea
Thanks for your response. I will keep you informed after our appointment on 11/2. I agree with you, it is worth the drive if the recovery is better. How soon were you able to bear weight? Also, do you have restrictions now?
Sorry for all the questions, but this is all so new to me. I am a Labor & Delivery nurse.....I don't deal with hips

 

[ripanco]

Sandy,
I was weight bearing the next morning, cruising the halls and doing stairs on crutches the follwing morning and sent home that afternoon. Within 4 days at home I was often forgetting to use my crutches going room to room. I was doing light hiking on the Long Trail within the month and back to most of my athletic endevors within 4 months. However, this is not the average, I was in extremely good physical condition before my surgery even though the pain in my hips had stopped my running for a year. I really worked hard at strength training to get as strong as I could before my surgery. And not that it really matters much to me, I have 3" and 3.5" scars that have faded quite a bit.

At my one yr checkup, my hips looked so good my surgeon lifted ALL restrictions and told me to "Go for it!" He feels I have at least a good 20 years on these hips if I don't abuse them too much. I pretty much do anything I want and do not even think about my hips except when I think about how lucky I am to be able to do the things I love so much. For what it's worth, I competetively horseback ride (hunter/jumper), ski x/c & downhill very aggressively, kayak, rollerblade, mountainbike, strength train, run a little(mostly hill repeat type workouts), hike, you name it. But, after having 3 boys (one at home) there will be no more L&D for me!!

Andrea

 

[shanvey]

Just an update--we went to another specialist 100 miles away. He said my husband is an excellent candidate for MIS. We are scheduled for 11/29. He is supposed to be walking in his room 4-6 hours after surgery, and walking the lenght of the hospital hall the next day using only a cane if needed. He will go home on the 2nd post-op day! This surgeon does 700 MIS replacements a year! I am so ready for my husband to be well again and out of constant pain

 

[ripanco]

Now that sounds more like it!! I am very glad to hear that you sought out the second opinion and did not settle for the first. I am sure it will be worth the extra drive. Are you going to be able to stay overnite in your hubby's room? It made a huge difference to me to have my DH stay in my room, not only for support but he was a huge help in taking care of me. The staff loved having him since I did not have to call them at all and I much prefered having him to tend to me. Do you know what type of MIS and prothesis yet? keep us posted

Andrea

 

[shanvey]

Andrea,
I will be able to stay in my hubby's room. I asked the old doctor did my hubby need to be doing any exercises to help prepare his body. I thought it was odd that he said no. The new specialist gave him about 6 exercises for him to do prior to his surgery. He also gave him a book on MIS, what to expect, when to expect and what not to expect. We also got a very informative video that he has produced for his patients! I am sooooo glad that we did not go through with the traditional hip replacement that was scheduled for 11/7. I am a firm believer in going with your gut feeling and my gut feeling was that this surgery (the traditional replacement) was just not for him. The implant he is using the "Zimmer". I am not sure what it is made of. The surgeon is going to use the 1 incision posterior. Thanks for all your help!

Sandy

 

[ripanco]

Hi Sandy,

Well, it sounds like you hit the jackpot with the second OS! I had a little more time than your DH to prepare for my surgery (2 mon), but I used it to do as much strength training as I could. I went into my surgery in peak physical condition and I can ***ure you, that made a hugh difference in my recovery. So urge your DH to do his exercises faithfully! Three weeks can make a pretty big difference if you work hard at it.
My surgery was also posterior, single incision(I think that is the only way they do posterior) and it worked great for me. There are no muscles cut, small incision. He is gonna love his new hips and you are gonna love the happier guy!

Andrea

 

[mary]

Hi Sandy, I am eager to hear how your husband's MIS went. I am told I need a hip replacement, eventually two and I didn't know about this MIS until I logged on to this site. How did the OS decide that your husband was a good candidate? I am 65 but in excellent health and very active. I don't have a lot of pain yet but want to get it done before I retire so I can access sick leave etc. I am enjoying the conversations with you and Andrea and want to get in on them. This is the first time I have ever visited a site. Mary

 

[shanvey]

Hi Mary. I would strongly encourage you to find an ortho surgeon that specializes in minimally invasive hip replacement surgery. Like I said earlier, my husband was originally scheduled for a traditional hip replacement on 11/7.
I am a nurse, and I work with a doctor who had avascular necrosis (the same problem my hubby has). He went to New Orleans to a doctor who specializes in MIS. He said that he walked the afternoon of his surgery and WALKED out of the hospital on the 2nd post-op day. Our new doctor said we would do the same thing. We are having the new surgery on 11/29/06 in Birmingham, Alabama. One web site you can go to find a doctor that specializes MIS, is www.zimmer.com

You stated that you are not having a lot of pain yet. My husband started having hip pain in March 2006. At that time, he experienced pain when he got out of a sitting position. Currently, his pain is pretty bad. His right femur head has totally collapsed. We are both convinced that the post-op pain will be like a piece of cake compared to the pain he has now.

You asked how did the OS determine that my hubby was a good candidate for MIS. My husband is in great health, other than he has bum hips. He is
6'2" and weighs 220. The doctor did advise him to lose 20 pounds to help the new hip last longer. He is pretty active.

I will keep you posted on how his surgery goes. Good Luck!

Sandy

 

[ripanco]

HI Mary,

I believe it is more a matter of having an OS that does MIS and is good at it rather than wether or not you are a 'good candidate' for that procedure. It does take skill and training to do a good job with MIS THR, so not every surgeon is going to be able to do it. Take the time to find an experienced surgeon that you feel total trust with.

I think you may be smart to do it sooner than later too. You are young, healthy and active now, good conditions for better recovery and success. and if you are like me, you may be surprised to find after the surgery that you really did not know how much pain you are living with, until it is gone! Meanwhile, do your research, stay active and strong!

Andrea

 

[shanvey]

Mary & Andrea,
Just an update: My husband's hip replacement was yesterday (11/29). He did awesome!! The surgery was about 45 minutes. His incision is about 3-4 inches. Yesterday afternoon, he got up to a chair with ***istance. This morning, he walked the hospital halls without any crutches, walker or a cane. By this afternoon, he walked up the stairs to the 5th floor, (we are on the 4th floor), and then walked down the stairs to his room. We are scheduled to go home tomorrow morning!!

Sandy

 

[ripanco]

Hi Sandy,

yipee!! I was so glad so see your post here. Was he really walking without crutches??? That is amazing! My home health PT was having hissy fits that I was forgetting my crutches at 4 days post! So you must be home by now. Remember the first week is the toughest, then things start improving fast after that. Please keep us posted. Give your DH my best.

andrea

 

[shanvey]

Andrea & Mary,
Just an update--my husband returned to work on 1/8/07. Two days shy of 6 weeks post op. He is an industrial maintenance tech. He is doing great! He has a slight limp at the end of the day & he states that his leg is "a little sore" when he goes to bed, but each night the soreness is less than the day before. I am totally amazed at how well he has done!

Sandy

 

[mary]

Andrea & Mary,
Just an update--my husband returned to work on 1/8/07. Two days shy of 6 weeks post op. He is an industrial maintenance tech. He is doing great! He has a slight limp at the end of the day & he states that his leg is "a little sore" when he goes to bed, but each night the soreness is less than the day before. I am totally amazed at how well he has done!

Sandy

Congratulations to both of you. I know it probably took as much out of you as your husband! I am soooo glad it went well. Well, I am just a procrastinator. I have another appointment tomorrow in Seattle and they say they have done the MIS for a long time. Most importantly, they promised me 40 minutes of consultation time. I told them I am a difficult patient. Now I am reading about the hip resurfacing system and wondering if I would be a candidate for that rather than an entire replacement. I appreciated hearing that sooner is probably better than later. You are right, Andrea, (I think it was you) I have compromised my activities so much I think I am not having much pain. But then I push myself (like trying to keep up with my kids walking 40 minutes to a concert ) and I couldn't walk home again. I will keep you posted. Mary

 

[trendelenberg]

YOu mentioned the Long Trail.
I live in West Hartford CT and do want to get a second opinion about "MIS" procedure....I need one done now and after getting my first diagnostic films with the UCONN OS who did my wife's knee (she is a nurse)...I find I have had dysplasia for years....but no sx till running and a fall 2 years now.....

I will interview 3 or 4 people....perhaps if OS within 100mi of me, I could get name?

Thanks and congratulations on your good outcome