Revision THR Femoral Shaft Stress Fracture Stem Tip

[myglasshalffull]

Vik,
I think when you make a "plan" for the day of what you would like to accomplish sometimes the body doesn't go along with that plan. I had so many days that I'd make a loose plan and then after a few jobs around the house I'd have to sit and ice. I hated that cause I like to complete tasks at hand and then rest but I learned quickly that the hip ran the show.
Fortunately I'm past that now but I do understand your frustration.
Hang in there.

 

[Caison113]

Your daughter came in the heat wave! That was unbearable the Friday hit 41 degrees! Totally insane. Hope you daughter loves Melbourne and the study abroad experience! I hear accomodate etc is crazy here, so many internationals struggling to find places to stay?

Luckily she is staying on campus at St. Mary’s College, so that was taken care of. So far she has really enjoyed it from the food the nightlife to the other kids. And she has really learned to take the sun seriously down there. Some of her classmates had to learn the hard way unfortunately!

 

[thepuckhead]

Hi, @Vik -

For what it's worth, I had a stress fracture that happened during my THR - it's not exactly like your situation because mine was in the socket part of the joint and isn't visible on x-ray, but I do know that my surgeon also wanted me to be partial weight bearing for a couple of weeks before starting a "regular" rehab. At my 2-week post op, I was advised that, out of an abundance of caution, it wouldn't be the worst thing to stay partial weight bearing until week 6, as I think the time frame for complete stress fracture healing is between 6-8 weeks. So, I sympathize with your worry about it happening again, especially when it happened when you were walking.

Not a medical professional at all, but I think it's a good sign that your fracture is healing on its own and that your pain is getting better. Do you like to swim or cycle? If you do and you can, those are really good options for cardio vascular workouts while supporting healing if you want to get in some exercises while maximizing the healing time for the fracture. As soon as I'm cleared to get in the pool, that's where I"m headed, anyway.

Take care -

 

[Vik]

Thanks everyone for your advice and personal opinions, it’s very helpful.

Surgeon now wants me to do another round of Forteo injections, he said my leg is healing but ever so slowly so thinks a boost to bone healing will be better long term than a plate or revision of the stem, which are big interventions with no guarantee.

Let’s hope Forteo gives some bone healing, and pain reduction

 

[Vik]

Writing this one from Hospital post op revision to shorter stem, surgery Monday. Drill bit broken and left in. I am dreading this, is this a problem which is lying in waiting? I can’t imagine it is ok to just stay there and not migrate overtime? Cause infection?

 

[Mojo333]

Hi @Vik
oh my stars.... seems like you can't catch a break
Your right hip revision -this one - was done Monday, December 18?

Is the drill bit shown at bottom left side of femoral shaft?
If so....What would need drilling there?
I can't imagine this would cause infection but I really would wonder about how it got there and it appears to be between prosthetic shaft and your femor where bone growth should occur...

What did your surgeon say?
Any clarification you can supply would be helpful...
Are you home? I am sending healing Mojo down under ....

 

[newguy]

Yikes!!

 

[mendogal]

Oh dear. I'm curious to know what your surgeon says.

I've done some poking around on research websites. When there's broken instruments in ortho surgery, which is quite rare, it's most commonly drill bits, and they are often left in place.

I can't find a single thing on complications due to retained drill bits. Which I hope is reassuring.

 

[Vik]

@Mojo333 its a bit like that, I just shake my head, has to be me the drill bit is actually at the back, there is other X-rays images which I didn’t take photos of, because I was so out of it. The drill bit is not in contact with implant. My surgeon said he was thinning bone at the top when it broke. It would have caused far more issues to remove it, then leave it. So he left it. There is just not much information on drills buts left it.

 

[Vik]

Oh dear. I'm curious to know what your surgeon says.

I've done some poking around on research websites. When there's broken instruments in ortho surgery, which is quite rare, it's most commonly drill bits, and they are often left in place.

I can't find a single thing on complications due to retained drill bits. Which I hope is reassuring.

Yes I can’t find any information either, so I am hoping this is a good thing. It is super rare drill bits breaks, my surgeon said bone is like cement, which causes the breakage. I just hate the unknown, I kind of had thought this was it it, last surgery etc. But, now my mind wonders… will this little drill bit pop up problems and again, we have to surgically attend to? I’m just so tired of surgery and post op pain and dysfunction- currently 6 days post op, so my mind is just tired I guess.

 

[Jaycey]

will this little drill bit pop up problems and again, we have to surgically attend to?

Good question to ask your surgeon when you next see them. But I doubt this will cause a problem. Patients have all sort of metal fixings in many areas. I think your surgeon would have removed this if they thought it was a problem.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Yikes...that's horrible. Hope you feel better sooner than later, facing additional surgeries is not fun.