AVN and Resurfacing

[Guest guest]

In terms of this being a support group, it's so important to hear of these

difficult experiences some of us have.

AVN is a major problem with resurfs, and it was a bit disconcerting for me to

hear from an ortho friend of mine in the San Francisco Bay Area and who

looked at my pre-surgery x-rays to say that he believed I had AVN. I didn't hear

that from my surgeon, Mr. Treacy, and fortunately my friend's opinion of my

post-surgery x-rays was very positive so I put that out of my mind.

However it's not something to stop worrying about. Ultimately you do what you

have to do, and if a THR is the way to deal with it, then so be it.

I went into this thing with my eyes wide open and was very grateful that it

all worked out. But I was never unaware of things going bad, and I really feel

for those folks whose bodies couldn't keep up the fight.

I remember waking up from the surgery basically alone, in pain, and 6,000

miles from home, wondering if it was going to be successful. You don't really

know until it starts feeling better, and when that doesn't happen, it must be

really crappy.

Des Tuck

In a message dated 4/15/2004 2:54:16 PM Pacific Standard Time,

lariabraham@... writes:

Anyway, for those of us who are not

healing quickly, it's wonderful to read about the success stories

out there, but it's also important to be aware of the other side.

Even though I find failure stories scarey and difficult to read,

it's part of the risk we take in going forward with such life-

altering surgery. I see my surgeon on Monday, and will discuss my

progress (and lack thereof) with him. Let's see what words of

wisdom he imparts-- this time. By the way, I'm 46, and the once (and

hopefully-soon-to-be-again) very active mom of three young kids.

[Guest guest]

Hi Carman,

I think this is a complex issue that has a few facets...........

One can start with fairly healthy bone (other than the arthritis) and have

AVN develop under a Resurface cap........ As I understand AVN it is to do

with blood supply ceasing to a part of the bone and thus it dies.........

This could result post op Resurface from the bone being cracked during the

resurface process........ the old enthusiastic hammer trick that my OS says

seems to be most responsible for failures here. It could also just happen

for some other unfortunate reason..............perhaps totally unrelated to

having a Resurface.

One can start with bone already having AVN issues for whatever

reason.......... some OS's will cut away the dead bone and resurface what's

left. I would then think that there are a number of factors that come in

here......... whether more of the bone dies than the surgeon judges it will

and that is enough to loosen the prothesis or it just develops AVN either

though a crack or some other reason............

When one considers this along with the fact that a femur head can have

cysts, congenital deformations etc the true wonder is that any of this

works, let alone that the failure rates are very low............ and as you

have already decided, about all we can do is look after our bones with

good diet and good exercise........... And the issue of maintaining healthy

bone stock is one of the reasons some OS advocate strong use of the

hip/legs as apparently this is more likely to maintain a healthy bone long

term..........

Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02

> Has anyone with AVN had a resurfacing. I read one guy's bad

> experience where the resurfacing caused AVN. As a result, the

> femeral component never really attached itself because the bone was

> dead and it had to be revised to a THR. I believe this is a very

> rare occurance.

>

> However, I know resurfacing has been an option for people who already

> have AVN. I guess there must be enough live bone for the femeral

> component to attach to, but I was wondering if anyone has any

> experience, positive or negative, with having a resurfacing after

> being diagnosed with AVN.

> I had AVN then had core decompression 11/97 then R/H C+

in

> 10/02 so far so good. It is quit common for many resurface hippys it will

> depend how your bone is willing to grow back. As for myself most of the

time I do

> not realize I have the hip implant. I feel very blessed. I am sure many

> others will say the same. I run about a mile 3 times a week, swim for

30minuts 3

> times week bike, shoot baskets play ball use a multitude of weight

machines

> pluse many more exercise. I am in construction concrete and sewer work . I

just

> try not over do it I know I can do more. I keep my exercise moderately but

> consistent I eat lots of fruits, veggies and fish very little meat and it

seems

> to keep the bones strong.

> Carmen R/H

C+

> Dr Goldberg