Marcos Pinheiro Miranda
CONSERVE® Plus Total Surface Arthroplasty, right hip
Marcos Miranda, 46, has loved playing volleyball since he was 12 years old. His discipline and passion for the game led to four appearances in the Olympic Games. In 1992, he won an Olympic gold medal for coaching the Brazilian indoor volleyball team. Also on his long list of athletic accomplishments are a Beach Volley World Tour Championship, Indoor Volley Grand Prix Championship and World Cup Championship.

Miranda has worked in the sports field for more than 20 years as a volleyball player, coach, physical trainer, and physical education teacher. However, two decades of the demanding training and travel schedules that come with working in sports put a great strain on his body.

About four years ago, he began to experience a relentless pain in his right hip when walking, climbing stairs or even standing up from a sitting position. He managed to find the strength to coach through the pain, but it significantly limited how actively he could participate during the practices. Running and jumping caused excruciating pain.

Since Miranda’s life revolves around sports and playing volleyball, he knew he needed to find a solution for his hip pain. He consulted with many of the top doctors in Brazil, and many recommended a hip replacement. Dr. Flavia Carrera examined Miranda and explained that because of his age and active lifestyle, the best option would be Wright’s CONSERVE® Plus Hip Resurfacing implant to resurface his right hip.

Dr. Carrera explained that, during hip resurfacing, very little bone is removed to insert the artificial femoral head implant, ensuring Marcos would retain as much healthy bone as possible. A prosthetic cup is also inserted to match the femoral implant. The metal-on-metal head and cup surfaces make for a more durable implant as compared to a metal-on-plastic total hip and give the joint a fluid motion. The larger-sized femoral cup and shell is designed to allow patients to experience a greater range of motion, as compared to total hips.

On April 16, 2007, Miranda received the CONSERVE® Plus Hip Resurfacing implant. After several months of physical therapy and strength training, Miranda can now stretch with very little pain, crouch down and, more importantly, he is starting to run and jump. After such a successful recovery thus far, Miranda says, “My expectation is to do everything without pain.”

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.