HOUSTON – A hip replacement is one of the most common medical procedures today. But a different kind of hip procedure called Birmingham hip resurfacing may be a good option for active men with arthritis.
Coach Danny Witt loves pushing himself to stay fit while teaching kids tennis fundamentalism, but at 28, the tennis pro hated what he heard from his doctor.
“I probably left there that day, and (it was) a long ride home,” Witt said.
He learned to live with the pain of an arthritic right hip, but it kept getting worse.
“It was like almost having a bad toothache but on a larger scale. At some point I had to get something done,” he said.
“Danny came to me with absolutely no range of motion in the hip. It was a square peg in a round hole, him trying to move his hip,” said orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brett Frykberg.
After years of worsening pain, Witt said enough and went in for a hip resurfacing procedure recommended by his doctor for active males with good, strong bones.
“The pain I used to have, I’ve never experienced again,” Witt said.
In the procedure Witt had, the femur is shaved off and then capped with metal hardware. Traditional hip replacement replaces the entire neck and head of the bone.
“The range of motion is much greater than probably anyone can do outside of a yoga instructor,” Frykberg said.
For younger patients like Witt, the surgery can be life-changing. But it’s not without risks.
“Those metal ions can cause issues later in life if the components aren’t placed in the appropriate positions,” Frykberg said.
He said it's important pick your surgeon carefully, make sure you’re a good candidate for the technique and don’t forget to stay active and follow up with your doctor.
“Everything is great now. I feel a lot younger than I was feeling about a year ago,” Witt said.
For Witt, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Frykberg said the procedure isn't great for women because a man's bone structure is a better fit. Studies have also shown that there are more revisions needed in female patients. There are some potential side effects as well.
There have been multiple lawsuits in regards to the procedure and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons lists possible side effects including:
- Blood clots. Blood clots in the leg veins are the most common complication of hip resurfacing surgery. Blood clots can form in the deep veins of the legs or pelvis after surgery.
- Infection. You will be given antibiotics before the start of your surgery and these will be continued for about 24 hours afterward to prevent infection.
- Injury to nerves or vessels. Although it rarely happens, nerves or blood vessels may be injured or stretched during the procedure.
- Femoral neck fracture.
- Dislocation.
- Risks from anesthesia.