ZOE

[Guest guest]

Hiya Zoe!

DId you get my first reply to you about Dr Treacy? I can't see it on

the list! If you've not got it let me know and I'll send it again.

I have osteoarthritis as a result of being born with congenital hip

dislocation - basically my hip was dislocated before I was born and

I needed an operation to fix it when I was 6 months old. This

operation involved breaking the leg severely (or at least it did at

the time for me) and the pins were inserted to help it heal.

Nowadays these pins are taken out when the child is about 2 but bakc

then they were left in - this is a shame as obviously it's much

easier for kids bones to heal. Often this operation fixes the hip

for life, as far as I know, but for some reason I developed

osteoarthritis when I was 19 (although it wasn't diagnosed until I

was 22).

About the pins - THe specialist I saw about THR said he needed to

take them out before this could be performed. The way he does this

operation means inserting pins vertically down the thighbone.

Because I have 4 pins crossing my thight horizontally, they would

have to be removed for a THR to be performed. Because they have been

there for 23 years, this is a major and tricky operation with a long

recovery period. THis is why A resurfacing is the better option for

me at the moment because the pins can stay in.

SO...TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION (finally!!)

In my case, and I would presume in most cases although I don't know,

it's ok for pins to stay in for a resurf, but not for a THR.

Hope this Helps - feel free to ask me any more questions!

Morag

> I was wondering about what you said about pins in femur:

>

>

> > > Re: Running out of ammo

> > > I'm in EXACTLY the same situation!

> > > I'm 22 and came to the conclusion that resurfacing was by

far

> > the

> > > better option for me at this point in my life. - Aside from

> > anything

> > > else to have a THR I'd have to get the pins out of my femur,

> > wait a

> > > couple of years at least for my bones to heal, then have a

> THR.

>

> I have two pins in my femur attaching the head back on. Do pins

have

> to be removed in order to resurf??

>

> I hope you dont mind me asking but do you need the op for athritis

> since an accident. I haven't seen any postings here from people

who

> like me need surgery due to a break to the hip not that it really

> matters.

> Zoe