Make/type more important than realized?

[Jamie]

The article Hippain linked to was supporting the idea that the US should develop a national registry of joint replacements. It really wasn't suggesting that patients do the deep research on device failures. Not that researching is a bad idea or a good idea...it just wasn't the focus of the article.

 

[hippain]

Much to my first doctor's credit, when I asked him about resurfacing, he admitted he didn't do it or know a whole lot about it, and suggested I meet with someone who did to explore my options. When I sought out a resurfacing surgeon, I looked for ones who were attached to the best orthopedic departments I could find (John Hopkins and Union Memorial), and I selected surgeons who did THR as well as resurfacing to get a balanced view, I met with two.

Both agreed resurfacing would be "their" first choice for me and explained in detail some of their protocols for selecting a resurfacing patient. Neither tried to sell me on resurfacing or out of it, in fact both said that if once they got in there, if they found an unexpected problem (i.e., cyst) that may diminish the potential for a good outcome with resurfacing, they would be fully prepared to abort the resurfacing procedure and proceed to install a full THR right then and there.

Now I absolutely agree with you Mudpro, sounds to me like you did everything you could to make sure you got the best care for yourself by researching not only the docs but also the hospitals, like Jamie the very wise moderator says. And apparently you did. Good for you!! And look at your outcome. Good on you!

HipPain

 

[hippain]

The article Hippain linked to was supporting the idea that the US should develop a national registry of joint replacements. It really wasn't suggesting that patients do the deep research on device failures. Not that researching is a bad idea or a good idea...it just wasn't the focus of the article.

No not at all and I agree it would be great if the U.S did start a joint registry but it is still important to know that like the other poster that started this said, not all devices are created equal and here was proof of one that excellent surgeons used and yet they still failed due to a faulty device. What a shame

HipPain

 

[Josephine]

Not a lot patients can do about that, hip. In the UK we've had a joint registry for about 25 years, probably longer. Every implant used has several adhesive bar coded labels in the box. The primary implant also has a card for them and a prepaid addressed envelope. The senior staffer is responsible for making sure that every space on the card has a label from each item used - 4 for hips plus whatever screws were used, and 4 for knees - and a label from the patient's notes giving their details and hospital number, date and name of surgeon and hospital of course. And then that it goes into the post immediately.

I am amazed the US doesn't have one. But even if it doesn't, I still think it's the surgeon's responsibility to make sure he/she is up to date and aware of these issues where they occur. That's their job.