Danny Dring
CONSERVE® PLUS Total Hip Resurfacing Recipient
Danny Dring is an internationally recognized, award-winning martial artist who has earned six gold medals and two silver medals in international competition. He has also won many state, regional and national titles within various organizations and holds a 6th degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, a 5th Degree Black Belt in Weeping Style Jujutsu, a 5th Degree Black Belt in Joe Lewis Fighting Systems (Kickboxing) and a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

As a performing artist, Danny has always been acutely aware of his own body. His training regime included all the things athletes would normally do to keep in shape - running, lifting weights and stretching, in addition to his martial art training. So, when he started experiencing pain in his hip, he knew immediately there was a major problem.

In 1995, he was first diagnosed with avascular necrosis and underwent core decompression surgery in 1996 that bought him some time but didn't correct the condition. He continued to actively train and teach - although he was functioning with a bad hip with pain that was increasingly impacting his active life.

In 2003, things couldn't get any worse. It hurt for Danny to sit, lie down, be still and stand up! He was teaching all over the country and after each seminar would lie in his hotel room in horrible, agonizing pain. He tried many medications for relief, and was concerned with the long-term effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on his liver and kidneys. He was grumpy and recognized that "those closest to me were bearing the brunt of my pain. I often didn't realize how much of an effect this pain was having on my life. The thought of not being able to perform as an athlete at a high-level was scary. But, I decided I finally needed to do something."

Danny researched his options, found his way to Dr. Harold Boyd in Salem, Oregon and was accepted into the clinical trial for Wright's CONSERVE® PLUS Total Resurfacing Arthroplasty. As part of this procedure, very little bone is removed to insert the implant; allowing Danny to retain as much healthy bone as possible. Total resurfacing preserves the head and neck of the femur and does not invade the femoral canal - helping to preserve the patient's natural, kinematical joint. Because of his active athletic lifestyle and based on his research, Danny decided this was his best option.

He underwent the procedure on May 27, 2003 with Dr. Boyd and the next day was walking on crutches and climbing up and down stairs. For the first six weeks he was on crutches, partially due to a necessary bone graft, and by the end of summer he was back traveling cross-country teaching seminars in kickboxing, jujutsu and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

In mid-November, five months after surgery, he hit his Chinese splits - for the first time in years. Although still not 100%, "The non-stop throbbing toothache in my hip is gone. The 24/7 aches and pains are gone. I am FINALLY getting a full night sleep - no more moaning and groaning. I can now go hunting with my little boy and carry an 80 lb pack with me."

"This surgery has fundamentally given me my life back - my ability to earn my living teaching, training and exercising."