1 Attachment(s)
A new Hippie - wih the SuperPATH technique
On Sept 18th I had a total hip replacement done in Sydney. This was done with the relatively new SuperPATH technique, where the incision is at ~135° from the front, and above (superior) to the hip joint. The incision is only 65mm long, rather than around 170-200mm long with the old technique, and this has several benefits because it is far less invasive:
- Reduced time in hospital (overnight only)
- Much faster recovery - walking with help two hours later
- No low chair or leg crossing restrictions (amongst a whole host of other restrictions)
The 105 minute surgery started at 1pm and by midday the next day I was discharged.
I used crutches for 4 days, then a walking stick around the house until day 12. I was able to drive after 13 days. Some time in the third week I felt up to walking around the shops, but at 250-300m it was a little too much and I had a sore leg for a day or so.
On day 36 I felt able enough to start street walking, but because I'd had to be so sedentary for so long before surgery I buggered my calf muscles :C. So at about day 43 I was able to walk about 500 metres up and down hill. I've only been taking the walking stick with me as a fail-safe in case I get into difficulty - not actually using it.
I'm not sure how this compares to conventional replacement recovery, but I am told it is significantly quicker. I can sleep on that side for some hours without pain, and now the only painkillers are 665mg of slow release paracetamol four times a day, which I can probably taper down.
Here is the implant (mostly titanium, with a ceramic B&S):
Attachment 503446
I had to crop off the right side of that - I'm not sure how long soft body parts have been showing up in Xrays, but we can't have y'all getting envious. :D
When I saw the surgeon on day 13, he remarked that "He thinks he got the leg length right" which I had not given consideration to. It would be too easy to make it different which would introduce a limp.
A 65mm cut would yield an aperture of about 35mm diameter, so not much bigger than a toilet roll to do everything through. One thing that struck me is that I have lost a significant amount of marrow capacity in the right femur, but presumably the body compensates for this.
As a post script, I will probably continue to take the walking stick with me for shopping - I discovered that people are FAR more courteous, and give me a wide berth. It is also very useful for getting the 2 litre milk containers from the back of the fridge in the supermarket (where they get stuck on the rollers). :;
