Back In The Game With New Hip Treatment

Bone-Smoothing Surgery Offers Promising Treatment For Debilitating Hip Osteoarthritis

(CBS)  Fifty-one year old Buddy Garlasco is back in the game - and was beating CBS News contributing medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the racquetball court - though he’s recently had a hip repaired.

“This is where we play,” Garlasco said. And Gupta was ready to be schooled.

How long did it take for Garlasco to get back on the court after his surgery?

“Seven to eight weeks,” he said.

Over the years Garlasco’s right hip had developed arthritis - the result of his passion for racquetball and his job as a contractor.

“It was so bad that I really couldn't even walk up a set of stairs and it ... encompassed the whole hip,” he said.

A traditional hip replacement may have limited Garlasco’s activities, even after he healed. So his doctor, William Macaulay, gave him a new choice for Baby Boomers: hip resurfacing.

Resurfacing is just what it sounds like. Instead of removing the thigh bone, as is done with total hip replacement, think of it as adding a cap to the top of the thigh bone leaving most of the bone untouched.

The result? Solid metal on metal, rather than metal on plastic. The technique allows you to save more bone, which results in more mobility.

“The bone has grown nicely into it,” McCauley said.

It’s been done on more than 5,000 patients in the U.S.

Was this a difficult decision in any way for Garlasco to have hip resurfacing versus a hip replacement?

“It was a no-brainer,” Garlasco said.

It's slightly more expensive than total hip replacement and the recovery time is comparable. But hip resurfacing is controversial - so new, there is only about one year's worth of data measuring its success in the United States. And there is a small chance of fracturing the hip joint.

"People will say, 'you know what, Dr. McCauley, the total hip replacement works just fine. Just stick to that.' And you way what to that?" Gupta asked.

“At one year, we have a significant number of people who have done the resurfacing on and they are actually functioning higher with less pain,” McCauley said.

“I could tell two days after I was operated on that my hip felt better already,” Garlasco said.

In the long term, no one is quite sure how well Buddy's hip will hold up - MacCauley says about half the patients are likely to have to get their resurfacing re-done after 15 to 20 years.

But today, Buddy's hip took a pounding. And so did Gupta.

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For more information on the procedure, visit the Web site of Birmingham Hip Resurfacing.

[leftyg3]

i am a candidate for hip resurfacing and would like to know if anyone can identify doctors in the southeast usa who have experience performing the bhr technique. i would most greatful if anyone has any info . my e-mail is [e-mail] thanks,bob g

[leftyg3]

my name is bob garrison I am an avid racquetball player and I live in birmingham alabama.I have developed severe osteoarthritis in both hip joints. have researched the BHR hip resurfacing proceedure extensively,and believe it is for me;however I have not been able to identify doctors in this country who have experience with the surgery.Would certainly appreciate any help. you may reach me at [e-mail] thanks/bob g.

[itypfst-2009]

Thanks for the story on hip resurfacing. I am a 47 year old woman with lupus. Part of my early treatment for management of the disease was massive long term doses of prednisone. Though the drug was beneficial in getting my lupus under control one of the side effects was osteonecrosis in my hip joints. Three years ago I was ready to give up walking and start using a wheelchair. The pain was constant and unbearable. Thanks to Dr. Cynthia Kelly and Colorado Limb Consultants I underwent bilateral hip resurfacing. I am now 2 years out from the most recent surgery and am able to do most of the things I want, with the exception of long periods of time walking or standing, this causes a cramping pain that only laying down and relaxing will resolve.

I strongly urge anyone who has chronic hip pain to investigate this possibility.

[jonesmd3_dotmac]

I understand the Europeans have been doing hip resurficing for 10+ years. What is their success rate?

[zerivitz]

I have found the boomer bodies series very interesting. Knee and hip replacements are almost everyday surgeries in most people''s minds. I saw the preview for tomorrow when you with cover nerve stimulation. .I know I haven''t seen it yet but I worry that people will not realize how much lower the success rate is for this device. My husband has had a spinal cord stimulator for several years. He describes it''s actions as white noise.For the past 6 months he hasn''t even had it turned on because it no longer helped to lower the pain level.I hope your patient has better success.Janet A.

[glefrenchie]

I am a 46 year old woman. I had my right hip resurfaced back in July with Dr. Geller who works with Dr. Mcauley...I have half my life back as I still have to have my left hip resurfaced soon. I have no pain, I am doing things that I have not done in years. This is a miracle surgery, sleeping, walking, shopping, doing dishes, cooking, cleaning,so much more, I am so happy, as my husband says, I was going nowhere fast...God Bless Dr. Geller and his magical [e-mail]

[realtyrs]

there is a great yahoo group that you can get more info from it''s [e-mail]

[michaelmdnnc]

I had my hip resurfaced 3/31/03 at Duke University as part of a clinical trial. Two devices are now FDA approved the "BHR" & the "Cormet 2000". This is the ideal surgery for active adults with hip arthritis. For more information go to www.activejoints.com
or the Yahoo Egroup Surfacehippy. use a google search if necessary. this is being performed in mant places in the US and abroad. Insurance now pays in many cases.

[karo413]

I am a 45 year old women who has been told I have degentive joints. I am sever pain on a daily basis. The only thing I keep hearing is my joints are not bad enouugh to have the pain I am in. I am here to tell you this is not something I would wish on my worse enemy.. MY right hip is three times bigger then the left one. I am tired of hurting. I can''t even do dishes or stand for a long time without ending up crying. I can''t sleep at night. Any information you can give me would be very helpful. I can''t take very much more. They say it is in my lower spine. My hip gives me more pain if not just as much as my spine. Please help me if at all possible. Thank you Karen Cook You can reply to [e-mail]