Two-Incision THR complications

[MGM]

I am a 54 year old man who had a total hip replaced in Feb 2005, using the two-incision minimally invasive method. I have had nothing but problems. My gluteous maximus muscle had to be repaired 11 months after surgery because of damage done during THR. I had to have it repaired again in December 2006. I have had severe pain which has gotten worse over the last several months. I went to Mayo, and found out that the femoral component is loose, and will now need to be replaced. Anyone else have problems after the two incision technique was used? I have done extensive research on this method since I have encountered these problems, and have found that the procedure tends to have a much higher rate of complications. Mayo no longer uses this technique. If you are considering this, please research it well before you decide on the two-incision technique.

 

[Josephine]

Yep, you are finding the DISadvantages of being a pioneer in new techniques! There is a higher complication rate and that is something you have to be prepared to take the risk on.

Not nice.

And the trouble with these complications is that they're rarely fully resolvable. Once you have problems such as you describe there's not too much chance of a road back. But I'm sure the surgeons will do their best to improve things for you.

These kinds of issues were very commonplace back in the 60s and 70s. We'd spend soooo much time trying to correct the 'complications' (actually lapses in technique, to be honest) and that's how some of the surgeons with whom I worked at that time, became experts in Revision Arthroplasty. And in the nursing field, I also became something of an expert through working with them.

But never the less, many of the patients were sent home with vast improvements in their condition as a result once they'd been referred to those with the expertise. My advice would be to make sure the surgeon who carries out your revision is an expert in revision arthroplasty and not the one who originally put it in.

All the best in it, anyway. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

 

[JGosse]

I agree with Josephine, the quality of the surgeon is extremely important. My surgeon won't do the minimal version and won't do both hips at the same time. He was new at my hospital so I checked him out online and found he had specialized in hips and kees at John's Hopkins. I believe the fact that I recovered quickly and have so few issues is due to his skill.