Re: Resurfacing or PAO - the choice

[Guest guest]

Becky:

One of the Boston surgeons I consulted with prior to my resurfacing

surgery had suggested that a PAO may be a possibility, to delay a

THR. Resurfacing was never mentioned. During a PAO, the acetabulum

(the cup in your hip that receives the head of your femur) is

loosened (by cutting it loose from your pelvis) and then

repositioned, plated and screwed in place. This a big surgery,

you're on crutches for a minimum of 2-3 months and your hip is NOT

in a biomechanically normal position. This is a tactic to delay the

onset of arthritis, but you will likely need to deal with a hip

replacement at some point in your life.

When confronted with the option, I reasoned that it didn't make

sense to go through a major operation like a PAO, only to have to

deal with a THR later. 3 or more months on crutches and a year of

recovery and then a THR later.....PAO - NO WAY!! Plus, I didn't like

the idea of walking on a biomechanically abnormal hip.

I had my hip resurfaced 2.5 weeks ago and I feel fantastic!! It

feels absolutely normal. I walked on it the day after surgery, and

haven't needed pain meds since day 2 post-op. I am about ready to

purge my crutches and hope to return to work this week. In

retrospect, I have absolutely no doubt that the decision NOT to go

the PAO route was right. Even if the resurfacing fails (I do not

anticipate this at all!!), I have the option to have it converted to

a traditional THR by simply replacing the femoral component, which

will also provide a biomechanically normal (relatively) joint.

Do your self a favor and investigate resurfacing thoroughly!! Drs.

Gross, Amstutz and Mont are all experienced and their patients rave

about them (Naturally, I'm a bit biased).

Good luck on your decision.

Jim

RC2K Dr. Gross 6-23-04

[Guest guest]

At 01:24 PM 7/11/2004 +0000, you wrote:

> I guess if its all

>about extending the life of our hips then why am I not being

>influenced in the direction of PAO first. Is resurfacing going to be

>the 'new thing' in preserving our hips. I've read a lot about both,

>but I haven't met anyone else who's been given such freedom of

>choice, most seem to be influenced one way or another.

Becky,

I suspect that a PAO specialist is not also going to be a resurfacing

specialist and vice-versa. Therefore, they are both likely to point you

down the path of their particular specialty, which then leaves you to

become informed (which obviously you are doing), and choose which feels

best for YOU! I was so far beyond eligibility for PAO, so that option was

eliminated for me (in 1996), so I went after resurfacing.

Cindy

C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01

[Guest guest]

What does PAO stand for? I don't remember hearing of it before

and can't find it in the glossary. Not that I'd want one - or could

even have one- after reading your description. My resurf works

just fine!

Ruth rbhr DeSmet 5/13/03

> Becky:

>

> One of the Boston surgeons I consulted with prior to my

resurfacing

> surgery had suggested that a PAO may be a possibility, to

delay a

> THR. Resurfacing was never mentioned. During a PAO, the

acetabulum

> (the cup in your hip that receives the head of your femur) is

> loosened (by cutting it loose from your pelvis) and then

> repositioned, plated and screwed in place. This a big surgery,

> you're on crutches for a minimum of 2-3 months and your hip

is NOT

> in a biomechanically normal position. This is a tactic to delay

the

> onset of arthritis, but you will likely need to deal with a hip

> replacement at some point in your life.

>

> When confronted with the option, I reasoned that it didn't make

> sense to go through a major operation like a PAO, only to have

to

> deal with a THR later. 3 or more months on crutches and a

year of

> recovery and then a THR later.....PAO - NO WAY!! Plus, I didn't

like

> the idea of walking on a biomechanically abnormal hip.

>

> I had my hip resurfaced 2.5 weeks ago and I feel fantastic!! It

> feels absolutely normal. I walked on it the day after surgery,

and

> haven't needed pain meds since day 2 post-op. I am about

ready to

> purge my crutches and hope to return to work this week. In

> retrospect, I have absolutely no doubt that the decision NOT to

go

> the PAO route was right. Even if the resurfacing fails (I do not

> anticipate this at all!!), I have the option to have it converted to

> a traditional THR by simply replacing the femoral component,

which

> will also provide a biomechanically normal (relatively) joint.

>

> Do your self a favor and investigate resurfacing thoroughly!!

Drs.

> Gross, Amstutz and Mont are all experienced and their patients

rave

> about them (Naturally, I'm a bit biased).

>

> Good luck on your decision.

>

> Jim

> RC2K Dr. Gross 6-23-04

[Guest guest]

Hi

PAO stands for periacetabular osteotomy. It's a recognised treatment

for people with bad pain associated with a (congenital) hip

dysplasia. Usually degenerative change needs to be minimal for full

effectiveness, but it's bone conserving and can be very effective for

8+ years. Some have mentioned 18yrs! Resurfacing has only been around

for 13yrs (in UK) and I'm trying to weigh up whats the best treatment

for me, with a CHD and being young at 26. I'm concerned about the

uncertainty of the lifespan of the resurf, and I'm beginning to lean

towards PAO as you can't go backwards from an artificial implant!

Hope this helps!

Becky )

> > Becky:

> >

> > One of the Boston surgeons I consulted with prior to my

> resurfacing

> > surgery had suggested that a PAO may be a possibility, to

> delay a

> > THR. Resurfacing was never mentioned. During a PAO, the

> acetabulum

> > (the cup in your hip that receives the head of your femur) is

> > loosened (by cutting it loose from your pelvis) and then

> > repositioned, plated and screwed in place. This a big surgery,

> > you're on crutches for a minimum of 2-3 months and your hip

> is NOT

> > in a biomechanically normal position. This is a tactic to delay

> the

> > onset of arthritis, but you will likely need to deal with a hip

> > replacement at some point in your life.

> >

> > When confronted with the option, I reasoned that it didn't make

> > sense to go through a major operation like a PAO, only to have

> to

> > deal with a THR later. 3 or more months on crutches and a

> year of

> > recovery and then a THR later.....PAO - NO WAY!! Plus, I didn't

> like

> > the idea of walking on a biomechanically abnormal hip.

> >

> > I had my hip resurfaced 2.5 weeks ago and I feel fantastic!! It

> > feels absolutely normal. I walked on it the day after surgery,

> and

> > haven't needed pain meds since day 2 post-op. I am about

> ready to

> > purge my crutches and hope to return to work this week. In

> > retrospect, I have absolutely no doubt that the decision NOT to

> go

> > the PAO route was right. Even if the resurfacing fails (I do not

> > anticipate this at all!!), I have the option to have it converted

to

> > a traditional THR by simply replacing the femoral component,

> which

> > will also provide a biomechanically normal (relatively) joint.

> >

> > Do your self a favor and investigate resurfacing thoroughly!!

> Drs.

> > Gross, Amstutz and Mont are all experienced and their patients

> rave

> > about them (Naturally, I'm a bit biased).

> >

> > Good luck on your decision.

> >

> > Jim

> > RC2K Dr. Gross 6-23-04