Re: Jeff & Reluctant Undercover Brother

[Guest guest]

Here's one thing for Reluctant Brother et famille to think about:

Sir Charnley had THRs well underway in England by 1960.

The Americans didn't do a single THR here until, I believe, late

1969.

What did all the Americans with crummy hips do in that interim?

Answer: Close their eyes and think of England.

(Sorry, couldn't resist!)

When you look at all the things Charnley pioneered that

revolutionized operating rooms (air flow to improve sterilization,

etc.) that have since been adopted as the standard of care here,

even the most ardent nationalist has to concede that foreign

doctors and scientists (ahem, ever heard of the Nobel Prizes?)

are no slouches in genius innovation to improve man's lot.

It's true that resurfacing does not have good, peer-reviewed,

long-term outcome data, but there's a time lag in compiling

these stats for any new joint technology. Yet, it is simply

astonishing how reluctant even " educated " Americans are to

concede supremacy to another party in any field of endeavor,

regardless of proof. It's one of the reasons we're so resented

every where, even by our allies.

Anyway, it's human to be concerned for your friend, but don't get

hung up on convincing him. A candidate for resurfacing has to

have a tolerance for a certain amount of risk, and maybe he

doesn't. We not only have to live with the choices we make, but

learn to accept those of others.

I believe a patient should take the responsibility to research his

or her own condition and options: All surgery carries some

degree of risk and the best comfort going in is to know you

researched your options thoroughly, controlled every variable you

could, and made the very best decision you could.

I would bet you 20 pounds (preferably to be taken out of my flesh

whether I win or lose) that whatever British hospital your friend

would visit is safer than the average American private hospital.

Medical mistakes kill 200,000 patients a year here and I'll spare

you my stories about people I know who have been crippled and

killed due to THRs. I've been in a LOT of American hospitals

(mostly for professional reasons) and the Brits seemed far

more systematic and thoughtful about infection control and

prevention. They also had a much better patient-staff ratio of

trained (and delightfully bright) nurses. And while it's true I was a

private patient, I was in a public hospital there, so I do wish the

Brits would stop trashing their NHS.

Best, Sheila

> Hi Folks,

>

> One of our list members brothers is quite down on resurfacing.

Here is a

> typical question from him:

>

> >Any prospective randomized studies

> >comparing 5-year and 10-year outcomes using this or very

similar devices

> and

> >procedures on athletic females in your age/weight/body mass

index group?

>

> OK, we need some good responses and I know there are

people who are more up

> to date on the studies than I am.

>

> Another part of the problem is that she has mentioned getting

a BHR and her

> family is having a problem with " foreign " hospitals and seems

to also

> assume that " socialized medicine " damns them to being third

rate. I am an

> American and have a BHR and just love it, but he dismisses

any first-hand

> information. Does anyone have some way of comparing UK

hospitals with US

> ones to put his fears to rest? Again, it's nice that you are all

doing so

> well, but that doesn't count.

>

> Thanks in Advance,

>

> Jeff

[Guest guest]

Sheila,

I hope I have not been misunderstood. I expressed what I thought at the time

but It may have been misunderstood as being Nationalistic. I support what I

think is best - American computer technology - Japanese Car Manufacturers -

Belgian Chocolates - Chinese and Indian cooking - Irish and ish

whiskey/whisky etc. It's grat to hear of you support of our NHS - it's a pitty

that it gets so much bad press. I admire you for hat was said but I doubt it

will get through to the many SCEPTICS .

Below is a copy of an article on ph Lister DID I HEAR SOMEONE SAY

WHO!!!! Names, places and times change but the storyline stays the same

Opposition to Procedures http://web.ukonline.co.uk/b.gardner/Lister.html#op

The 1870's were some of the happiest years of Lister's life, largely due to the

German experiments with antisepsis during the Franco-German War. His clinics

were crowded with visitors and eager students. Lister made a triumphal

tour of the leading surgical centres in Germany in 1875. On visiting America in

1876, however, he was only received with enthusiasm in Boston and New York City.

Opposition was great In England and the United States mainly against Lister's

germ theory rather than against his " carbolic treatment. " Edinburgh was regarded

as a provincial centre, despite the ancient fame of its medical school. Surgeons

were prepared to await for clear proof that antisepsis constituted a major

advance. Lister knew that before the usefulness of his work would be generally

accepted he must convince London.

Re: Jeff & Reluctant Undercover Brother

Here's one thing for Reluctant Brother et famille to think about:

Sir Charnley had THRs well underway in England by 1960.

The Americans didn't do a single THR here until, I believe, late

1969.

What did all the Americans with crummy hips do in that interim?

Answer: Close their eyes and think of England.

(Sorry, couldn't resist!)

When you look at all the things Charnley pioneered that

revolutionized operating rooms (air flow to improve sterilization,

etc.) that have since been adopted as the standard of care here,

even the most ardent nationalist has to concede that foreign

doctors and scientists (ahem, ever heard of the Nobel Prizes?)

are no slouches in genius innovation to improve man's lot.

It's true that resurfacing does not have good, peer-reviewed,

long-term outcome data, but there's a time lag in compiling

these stats for any new joint technology. Yet, it is simply

astonishing how reluctant even " educated " Americans are to

concede supremacy to another party in any field of endeavor,

regardless of proof. It's one of the reasons we're so resented

every where, even by our allies.

Anyway, it's human to be concerned for your friend, but don't get

hung up on convincing him. A candidate for resurfacing has to

have a tolerance for a certain amount of risk, and maybe he

doesn't. We not only have to live with the choices we make, but

learn to accept those of others.

I believe a patient should take the responsibility to research his

or her own condition and options: All surgery carries some

degree of risk and the best comfort going in is to know you

researched your options thoroughly, controlled every variable you

could, and made the very best decision you could.

I would bet you 20 pounds (preferably to be taken out of my flesh

whether I win or lose) that whatever British hospital your friend

would visit is safer than the average American private hospital.

Medical mistakes kill 200,000 patients a year here and I'll spare

you my stories about people I know who have been crippled and

killed due to THRs. I've been in a LOT of American hospitals

(mostly for professional reasons) and the Brits seemed far

more systematic and thoughtful about infection control and

prevention. They also had a much better patient-staff ratio of

trained (and delightfully bright) nurses. And while it's true I was a

private patient, I was in a public hospital there, so I do wish the

Brits would stop trashing their NHS.

Best, Sheila

> Hi Folks,

>

> One of our list members brothers is quite down on resurfacing.

Here is a

> typical question from him:

>

> >Any prospective randomized studies

> >comparing 5-year and 10-year outcomes using this or very

similar devices

> and

> >procedures on athletic females in your age/weight/body mass

index group?

>

> OK, we need some good responses and I know there are

people who are more up

> to date on the studies than I am.

>

> Another part of the problem is that she has mentioned getting

a BHR and her

> family is having a problem with " foreign " hospitals and seems

to also

> assume that " socialized medicine " damns them to being third

rate. I am an

> American and have a BHR and just love it, but he dismisses

any first-hand

> information. Does anyone have some way of comparing UK

hospitals with US

> ones to put his fears to rest? Again, it's nice that you are all

doing so

> well, but that doesn't count.

>

> Thanks in Advance,

>

> Jeff