Patient Testimonial
Jackie, CONSERVE® Total Hip with BFH® Technology Recipient via the PATH® Technique
Jackie isn't the typical woman in her 60s. A preschool teacher by day, Jackie often spends hours chasing toddlers around playgrounds. Her hobbies include riding a motorcycle, skiing, and dancing. She loves being a "young, hip grandmother" to her teenage granddaughter, priding herself on being active, and not letting anything get in her way!
A recent medical issue, however, threatened to derail her quality of life. About ten years ago, Jackie's physician noticed that one of her legs was shorter than the other. Unbothered by this news, Jackie continued with her active lifestyle. One day, as she approached her 60th birthday, she kicked her motorcycle into gear and experienced pain in her hip - which developed into a slight limp. Not ready to retire her wheels or dancing shoes, Jackie kept riding and boogying her Saturday nights away for nearly five more years. Eventually though, the throbbing arthritic pain in her hip became so severe that it was time to see an orthopaedic specialist.
A friend suggested that Jackie seek a consultation from Dr. Lee Nichols, a local orthopedic surgeon, who quickly diagnosed Jackie with osteoarthritis and suggested a total hip replacement. At first, Jackie hesitated, as she thought her recovery would take months and be very painful. However, Dr. Nichols explained he would be implanting the CONSERVE® Total Hip with BFH® Technology from Wright because he could employ the minimally-invasive PATH® technique which preserves soft tissue, allowing for a quicker recovery. With the PATH® technique, Dr. Nichols replaced Jackie's hip through a small incision and with less soft tissue damage, unlike the larger incision and more invasive loss of tissue necessary with a typical hip replacement. Also traditionally, the femoral head of total hip implants are smaller in size than a normal femoral head. However, Jackie's CONSERVE® BFH® implant is designed to be larger, mimicking more closely her natural anatomy, thus enabling her to experience the range of motion of a normal hip.
On June 1, 2009, Jackie underwent hip replacement surgery and, according to her, the results have been outstanding. She woke up without the throbbing pain she had been experiencing for five years. Three days after surgery she went home and began physical therapy. As she says, "I quickly felt the strength returning to my hip each day."
By the third week of July 2009, she was back on her motorcycle, kicking it into gear and taking it out for a nice long relaxing, pain-free, ride. It was at this moment that Jackie knew she made the right choice. Today, she stays busy - once again chasing after preschool children, dancing with her husband, shopping with her granddaughter, and riding her motorcycle. And she says, "I am so thankful to Dr. Nichols for doing such a great job. If I had replaced my hip sooner I wouldn't have missed so many good motorcycle rides."
Wright's CONSERVE® BFH® Hip is designed to mimic the natural anatomy and motion of the hip. It features a larger femoral ball and socket design that more closely matches the sizing of a natural femoral head, resulting in greater range of motion, which can reduce the incidence of dislocation. In addition, the implant's metal-on-metal bearing surface is designed to offer the benefits of added durability and reduced wear compared to alternative treatment options. Furthermore, the larger implant enables a greater range of motion without impingement of the hip, allowing most patients to enjoy a wide range of activities after their surgery. This can make a big difference to those trying to return to a more normal, active lifestyle.
Wright's PATH® Technique offers a smaller incision (2.5-3.5 inches as compared to 8-10 inches required for traditional hip replacement); however, the PATH® Technique is truly minimally-invasive because it is tissue-preserving; preserving all the short external rotators and muscles that allow the hip to function.
Because of this, the PATH® Technique offers patients the potential for decreased recovery time since there is, typically: reduced pain, reduced functional tissue damage, and reduced blood loss associated with this technique. This translates to patients who are able to walk, in many cases completely unassisted, within just days of surgery, as opposed to weeks to months of recovery time associated with traditional hip replacement techniques.
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.
