Ed
CONSERVE® PLUS Total Resurfacing Hip System Recipient
Ed, now 53, was born with an incorrectly aligned left femur but never knew of the problem until he was an adult. Ed has always led an active lifestyle and has two sons who have followed him in his many athletic pursuits. All three are surfers and living just two blocks from the shore in Virginia Ed spends a significant amount of time in the waves. Additionally, Ed, his wife, and sons are active skiers. Ed works as a media executive and to keep in shape for his skiing and surfing, he has been a runner for the past 20 years, frequently logging five to six miles a day.

In the summer of 2003, however, Ed began developing serious pain in his left hip. Thinking that his discomfort was due to muscle overuse, Ed kept running, waiting for the pain to work itself out. When that didn’t happen, he sought the advice of an orthopaedist who took x-rays and discovered the femur misalignment. He broke the news to Ed that years of strenuous exercise had caused the femur to damage the cartilage of his hip to the point where it was nearly gone.

Ed tried to continue surfing and skiing with the aid of several cortisone shots. He endured a skiing trip in Utah with his family, managing to ski solely because of a cortisone shot he received right before the trip. He planned another skiing trip with a friend that winter but, when he saw his doctor for his pre-trip cortisone ritual, the doctor finally turned him down. It was clear that something else had to be done.

Ed was referred to a hip specialist who advised that a hip replacement was Ed’s only option. Told that he might not be able to continue skiing and surfing after surgery, Ed refused and met with several additional orthopaedists in the area, only to hear the same thing. Ed recalls, “By that point, I had a real clear picture of hip replacement, and it didn’t sound good.” Fortunately, a holiday card from a friend in London mentioned that his friend had recently undergone a hip resurfacing procedure, and was thrilled with the results. Researching this option online, Ed found Dr. Thomas Vail at Duke University who was participating in a clinical trial for Wright’s CONSERVE® PLUS Hip Resurfacing procedure. In the procedure, very little bone is removed as a metal femoral component is used to resurface the head of the femur, allowing the patient to retain as much healthy bone as possible.

Upon meeting with Dr. Vail, Ed was told he was a perfect candidate for the surgery. “It’s all about timing,” said Dr. Vail. “When the pain is affecting your life this much, it’s time for a hip resurfacing.” On September 16, 2004, Ed had his hip resurfacing procedure.

He was in the hospital for only three days and, after three weeks of healing at home, dove into active rehabilitation. Ed had formal rehab appointments three days a week and hired a personal trainer who brought him up to six days a week of rehab. “It was grueling,” recalls Ed. “I’d really committed myself to the rehab completely. Dr. Vail had promised me that if I did my part, I’d be able to get back to skiing and surfing, and it wouldn’t be a problem. And it was true – I can now surf as well as I ever could. I’ve even traveled to Nicaragua where I was able to push the limits of my surfing more than I ever have before.”

Ed likes that he was able to have a more bone-conserving treatment, rather than a full hip replacement. He is glad that the procedure has let him get back to his activities and figures that if he needs it down the road he will still have the option of total hip replacement. For now, though, he’s enjoying his renewed lifestyle, “It’s like a miracle, given where I was and where I am now.” In March, Ed and his wife were skiing in Utah and found themselves riding in a snowcat to the top of the mountain with an orthopaedic surgeon with whom they discussed Ed’s hip resurfacing. “At the top, I skied down first,” says Ed. “He followed me and, when I stopped a ways down, he stopped right next to me. ‘That was amazing, that you can ski like that,’ he said. He was just so impressed with what hip resurfacing can do.”

These results are specific to this individual only. Individual results and activity levels after surgery vary and depend on many factors including age, weight and prior activity level.
There are risks and recovery times associated with surgery and there are certain individuals who should not undergo surgery.
Only a physician can tell you if this product and associated procedure are right for you and your unique circumstances. Please consult with a physician for complete information regarding benefits, risks and possible outcomes.