Re: interposition arthroplasty

[Guest guest]

More info on my upcoming surgery.

I saw my local orthopedic doctor today to do a bone density scan and

several x-rays of the hip in preparation for the surgery. We also

discussed the risk of " Avascular Necrosis " , which can happen if the

hip is deprived of blood for too long. Here is a really good web

site I found that describes it:

http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/avascular_necrosis/

The good news though is that this most often occurs only when there

is some type of trauma that causes the dislocation. And that since

my dislocation will be performed in the OR under controlled

conditions; the risk is actually very low. (less than 10%)

So with that news I have decided to go ahead with the " Arthroplasty

with Tendon Interposition " procedure in July. (that is the exact

name for the procedure by the way)

My doctor at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN specializes in Hips

and Elbows, but he said that this procedure (or a variant of it) is

also being used on shoulders, elbows, knees and fingers. I don't

know if anyone is really interested in this, but I just wanted to

let everyone know that there is an option for people with

degenerative arthritis besides total joint replacement.

[Guest guest]

Please forgive me for not understanding, what exactly are they going to do to your hip then if they are not replacing it. I am not at the point for hip replacement yet, but would like to know all options for the future. Thank you.

Barbara

philmcp <philmcp@...> wrote: More info on my upcoming surgery.I saw my local orthopedic doctor today to do a bone density scan and several x-rays of the hip in preparation for the surgery. We also discussed the risk of "Avascular Necrosis", which can happen if the hip is deprived of blood for too long. Here is a really good web site I found that describes it:http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/avascular_necrosis/The good news though is that this most often occurs only when there is some type of trauma that causes the dislocation. And that since my dislocation will be performed in the OR under controlled conditions; the risk is actually very low. (less than 10%)So with that news I have decided to go ahead with the "Arthroplasty with Tendon Interposition" procedure in July. (that is the exact name for the procedure by the way)My doctor at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN specializes in Hips and Elbows, but he said that this procedure (or a variant of it) is also being used on shoulders, elbows, knees and fingers. I don't know if anyone is really interested in this, but I just wanted to let everyone know that there is an option for people with degenerative arthritis besides total joint replacement.

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara,

In response to your question:

" Please forgive me for not understanding, what exactly are they

going to do to your hip then if they are not replacing it? I am not

at the point for hip replacement yet, but would like to know all

options for the future. Thank you. "

The way the " Arthroplasty with Tendon Interposition " surgery was

explained to me was like this:

1. Doctors dislocate the joint in question so that they can have

access to both joint surfaces. In my case, my left hip.

2. They reshape the ball and socket to remove any bone spurs and/or

overgrowth of the bone surfaces that is prohibiting normal movement.

3. They attach tissue to the ball and socket to act as a cushion or

cartilage, snap the joint back into place and sew you up. He said

they are using donor achilles tendons as the tissue now.

4. They get you up and walking with either crutches or a walker the

day after surgery and you should be able to go home within three to

four days if there are no complications.

When my doctor first told me about this surgery three years ago,

they were using your own skin as the tissue to put in between the

joint. But they switched to using the achillies tendon because it

is tougher and lasts longer (10 or more years depending on your

activity). He said that even though the tendon came form another

person, there is no chance of your body rejecting it or the need of

taking any anti-rejection medication because the tendon is dead

tissue from a cadaver.

Unlike a total hip replacement, this procedure can be done again

without the risks involved in doing another total hip if the first

one were to wear out or break. I don't know how long this surgery

has been around, but if the Mayo Clinic is one of the few places in

the U.S. that is doing it, then it must be pretty new.

If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Phil

[Guest guest]

Hi Phil,

Thank you for that explanation it really did help me to understand what they were going to do. I guess as long as there is not damage to the hip itself that procedure would be the way to go. It sounds as if its less invasive, at least you will still have your own hip. And the recovery time seems the better way to go too. When will you be having this done? Good Luck & I will keep you in my prayers.

God Bless, Barbara

philmcp <philmcp@...> wrote: Hi Barbara,In response to your question:"Please forgive me for not understanding, what exactly are they going to do to your hip then if they are not replacing it? I am not at the point for hip replacement yet, but would like to know all options for the future. Thank you."The way the "Arthroplasty with Tendon Interposition" surgery was explained to me was like this:1. Doctors dislocate the joint in question so that they can have access to both joint surfaces. In my case, my left hip.2. They reshape the ball and socket to remove any bone spurs and/or overgrowth of the bone surfaces that is prohibiting normal movement.3. They attach tissue to the ball and socket to act as a cushion or cartilage, snap the joint back into place and sew you up. He said they are using donor achilles tendons as the tissue now.4. They get you up and walking with either crutches or a walker the day after surgery and you should be able to go home within three to four days if there are no complications.When my doctor first told me about this surgery three years ago, they were using your own skin as the tissue to put in between the joint. But they switched to using the achillies tendon because it is tougher and lasts longer (10 or more years depending on your activity). He said that even though the tendon came form another person, there is no chance of your body rejecting it or the need of taking any anti-rejection medication because the tendon is dead tissue from a cadaver.Unlike a total hip replacement, this procedure can be done again without the risks involved in doing another total hip if the first one were to wear out or break. I don't know how long this surgery has been around, but if the Mayo Clinic is one of the few places in the U.S. that is doing it, then it must be pretty new.If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.Phil