Ceramic head explodes!

[kiwi]

Hey there everyone.As you can tell by my dramatic title,i have had one hell of a time with my THR.I am now 32 years old.At 29 years old i had my THR.My surgeon sold me the idea of a 28mm ceramic on ceramic option.I am a fairly active and fit youngish man...or was until this nightmare happened.The idea of ceramics really appealed,as i didnt want to be having to do it again and again(surgery).Approximately 50 years was the time frame i was quoted.It is now 3 years later,have already had two THRs(same side)...and just found out the grim news that i will be needing a third by the end of the year.I finally sought a second and third opinion.Then i was told that the shaft had been set on an angle,that was wearing it out on one side,and that a young man should never have had a 28mm head fitted!I feel like ive been sold a rubbish old used car,and my surgeon was the salesman...hang on i cant take it back,this is my life-which is now ruined.Sorry to be negative,but yeah.Any advice would be great.Have a meeting with the used car salesman in the morn,where i will probably be baffled and somehow leave with a handshake and a smile!

 

[Josephine]

Like all statistics, they can sound fine until you turn out to be one of the 0.02%! I'm so sorry this happened to you. To be honest, I would never opt for a ceramic on ceramic. It sounds good but .....

And I would say that telling you it would last 50 years was irresponsible! 20 or 30 years is the maximum at this juncture though there have been some whose hips have lasted 40 years.

However, as I've said on here ad nauseum the success is mostly in the hand of the surgeon, vis his skill. And if the prosthesis wasn't put in correctly, then that's where the fault lies. Few hip or knee joints fail on their own. They fail because they're been implanted badly and they need accurate placement for successful functioning.

I wouldn't let that surgeon anywhere near that hip again, if I were you. Why give him another chance to fail at your expense.

And were I in your shoes, I might also be thinking of seeing a lawyer ......

 

[Jamie]

Kiwi, welcome to BoneSmart. So sorry to hear about all you've been through. However, it does sound like you have done the right thing by getting second and third opinions.

Now my question would be why in the world are you even seeing the first doctor at all? If it was me, I would be talking to a revision specialist (hopefully one of the two other doctors you saw is a specialist in repairing other surgeons' less than sterling work) and getting an idea of how to put this right. If you have not seen a revision specialist, keep searching until you find a good one. I don't believe that your life is ruined....just that you need to locate the right surgeon.


And I totally agree with Jo that you also need to talk to a good attorney. It sounds like your first doctor should have selected a different profession.

 

[JudyS]

Kiwi
WElcome . I am so sorry about all that has happened to you. I have a ceramic ball with a poly liner. I love my doc and my new hip.
Please do not let the original surgeon touch you. You need a good revision specialist. Then you can be loving your new hip and enjoying life as I am.

I would tell him what I found out from the other docs and run away (well maybe walk away!)
judy

 

[Nancyo]

Kiwi
My heart breaks for you and everything that you've been through. This is one of those terrible situations that happens in the rare 0.02 % that just never should have been. From what your telling us, this is a bad mess up Kiwi and like Jo and Jamie, I'll add my thoughts on the fact that you should see a lawyer and a revision specialist. If you check this OS's record, I'd bet you aren't the first. Unfortunately there are "those" out there and if I were you I sure would NOT go back to him. Please.... be your own advocate and see someone else. Your life is not over but you do need someone who knows how to fix this. Let us hear from you soon. We care!
Blessings!
Nancyo

 

[mvo]

Hello fellow Kiwi

If you are able to choose another surgeon, please do so, and quiz him or her intensivley on their experience with revisons. I would not trust anyone with my next hip unless I was 100% comfortable with and had full confidence in them.

All the best...

 

[Texas]

Hey Kiwi Welcome Im a knee so I really dont know much about the hip. I know enough that I hate you have to do this again.......Are you going to a different OS or the same. I hope a different one...Yep ck out the next Dr very well its your hip they dont have to live with the pain you do...Take care and keep us posted......Really sorry this is happening to you ............

 

[kiwi]

Thanks heaps every one.Am really glad that i have found such a nice group of people.The meeting was to discuss what he had done to me.He denied all responsibility,and said it was fine as is.Unfortunately in New Zealand,we cannot take legal action against medical practitioners AT ALL.Basically over here if a surgeon stuffs up the job,then it works out well for them....They get another job out of it,fully funded by our government!.My surgeon advised me to seek legal advice if i am not happy,knowing full well that this would be a nice brick wall for me.Thanks again for your kind thoughts and words.kiwi

 

[kangaroo]

Thats appalling!

 

[tracie]

that is really terrible i hope that the upcoming surgery to correct your hip will fix the terrible mess they have made,thinking of you xxx:thmb::D

 

[Josephine]

Jees! That's awful!

 

[Troweltalk]

If it was your doctor who said your c on c hip would last 50 years, find another doctor!

I've got metal on metal and my doctor only said that the data currently supports 15 years (+ or -) but that if I take care of it I should be optomistic about 20+.

 

[mvo]

Hi Kiwi,

Asume your revision will be paid for/on ACC* - do you get to choose your surgeon or where you have the surgery? Which part of the country do you live in?

Monica

*ACC = Accident Compensation Corporation - takes away the rights of New Zealanders to sue...

 

[PRGal]

Wow, Kiwi, I'm so sorry to hear not just of your problems, but of your lack of legal recourse. I most definitely echo what others say--do NOT have anything to do with this smug, arrogant & incompetent turkey again!

However, though you may not be able to take him to court, I would suggest that you consider the court of public opinion. There are ways, without being libelous, of getting the word out about your experience. May not make a difference for you at this point, but could possibly spare another from the same experience.

Is there a medical or surgical professional association you can complain or report him to? Or is there a public media "troubleshooter"--either newspaper or TV--to whom you can tell your story? (I hate media sensationalism for the most part, but in this case, it'd be a public service!

These would be options in the U.S., so perhaps you have something similar.

 

[kiwi]

You are very right in saying this.Compensation is a non event.Letting the public know of this (Dr??!) is - your right a public service.Unfortunately this man has a lot of money,and is considered to be Aucklands best.Our past prime minister brought him before the public eye in 1999.It was about a similar type of thing.He hired a team of top lawyers,and She(our countries leader)was forced to make a public apology to him!!!!She of course was dead right,and unlike her i donnot have much to lose...So am looking at this option at the moment.Thankyou for your very valid suggestion.kiwi

 

[kiwi]

Hey there,thanks for your reply.Yes i do believe that ACC will cover the revision surgery(fingers crossed).I live in Auckland,and please donnot suggest Joe Brownlee.Thanks again

 

[YoungM]

Hi Kiwi,

I'm sooooo sorry to hear this. I to have Ceramic on Ceramic -just 5 months out. I hope you see a new surgeon.

Melissa

 

[HopAlong]

Wow! I am so sorry you have to go through this Kiwi!
I never knew in New Zealand you can't take legal action against doctors.....that is scary that they know they can get away with mistakes so easily!
Can you get a different doctor for the third surgery?
I'm sending prayers your way to help the third surgery be more successful.

Hop

 

[Judles]

Praying 3rd time will be your charm!!:pray:

 

[kiwi]

Thanks heaps everyone.My prayers are with all of you too.Have decided to just wait for this one to go aswell.The whole trauma of the Surgery is too much.I have very little faith in this procedure now,so dont want to volunteer myself for anymore stuff ups....would rather wait until it is once again an emergency..lol.Thanks again though everyone.You are all so great.