Risk of death from hip surgery- open & arthroscopic?

[summer375]

Hi Rayray

Thanks for your message, useful info, will have a look at the Cornwall Hip Foundation website (maybe after my exams!). I had entered 3 exams but I'm so far behind with study I might just have to take 1 as I'm not even sure I'll be able to study 1 well enough now. I'm a financial adviser, and the exams are advanced pension exams (pretty dull reading but I want to be able to give specialised pension advice- I can advise on pensions now but without these exams I can't advise on occupational transfers and I also want to take exams so I can advise on pensions splitting on divorce, as only 2 people can advise on occ transfers in my company and they are in constant demand and nobody has the divorce/pensions qualification so its a good area to get into). Currently I mostly advise on investment planning, plus all types of mortgages, life protection, personal pensions, etc. Although, the last 3 years I've been part time and am self-employed so combined with healthproblems and looking after my 3 year old I've found it a struggle. Hopefully it will be a bit easier when he goes to school, although I'd much rather keep spending time with him!

My husband was born in Bristol but mostly brought up in Taunton, his parents live on the outskirts of Bridgwater now, so we go down there from time to time, where abouts are you now?

Its awful how your Doctors haven't diagnosed your hip problems for so long and the lack of support you've had until recently. It sounds like its getting sorted now, thankfully. I hope your operation is really successful. I'm still hoping that I'll be able to have an arthroscopic operation as it sounds like less recovery time. I'll have to wait until I've spoken to Dr Villar mid May though, as I know I have FAI but still unsure what my previous consultant meant by my hips weren't aligned properly (whether this is dysplasia) as he didn't elaborate and I didn't know anything about it all at the time. Do the painkillers you mentioned make you drowsy at all?

Anyway, I think I'm coming down with tonsilitus at the moment, I've had a pretty sore throat the last 2 weeks, and now have spots on my tonsils and finding it hard to swallow, and have come down with a streaming cold today. I've got my son at home at the moment, and he's ill too (currently watching TV), he came home yesterday with a headache, sore throat and temperature of 102F so trying to keep him rested today (he doesn't know the meaning of resting or keeping still though he just carries on when he's ill until he literally collapses!). He's off on Easter holidays the next 2 weeks, and I've got our parents round at various times to help out, but not that much so I'm going to have to use all my time to study, as my exams start on the 21st. Help! So, I might have the odd look on here during the next 2 weeks, but probably won't have time to reply until after my exams are over.

Thanks again x

[summer375]

Hi Kate and thanks for your post. That's really bad that your arthroscopic surgery made you worse, that's what I'm worried about, especially as my hip isn't too bad at present. What was the surgery for, and what was your hip like before and what's wrong now? Do you know what they did that's caused it to be worse?

Thanks for the info on thrombosis etc and the website link, I'll definitely have a look at it. I guess I'll have to wait until I see Mr Villar in May so see what he says, it sounds like he's a good person to see then!

By the way I found out why some of my posts didn't appear straight away (I did post them again and they're on here twice now, I can't see how to delete the duplicates though, nevermind!). The site e-mailed me back to say that they review the first 5 posts that new members make to make sure they're proper/not spam and so some of mine weren't posted straight away. It was a bit strange though as the 1st and 3rd posts I wrote appeared straight away and the 2nd/4th were the ones that disappeared for a while.

Thanks again x

PS I don't know if you read any of my above post to Rayray, but just to let you know I'm pretty ill at present (tonsillitis I think), trying to look after my son, who's also ill, and study if I can, so I probably won't be posting again for at least 3 weeks, although I'll try and have the odd look on here again, so I would really be interested in your op details (as above), but may not reply again, as I'm not sure when I'll be able to get on here again, and probably won't have much time. Thanks.

[oscarsmum]

Hi Summer,

Don't worry about not replying.
Hope you feel better soon.

I will try to give you some history, hope it doesn't get too boring;

I was diagnosed with CDH at about 15months. My right hip was completley dislocated and I walked on my toes on that foot. I had ( according to Mr Witt ) a Derotational Femoral Osteotomy, and a further operation to remove the plate. I was in traction and plaster spica casts for 6 months.
Fastforward to my twenties, a normal childhood doing loads of sports, I began to have lots of vague pains on my right side. I got all sorts of explanations at the time, including suspected appendicitis, bowel spasms , ovulation pain etc. In the end I just ignored it , knowing that the pain would wax and wane . I also had lots of back pain throughout this time.
When I was about 35 ( 5 years ago) it became more intense, and I was sent for physio, then to see a local consultant ( who told me that although my sockets were slightly shallow, and arthritic cysts, there was basically nothing wrong ). He told me to go away and live with it. I wouldn't accept this so did my own research. He gave me a steroid injection which helped for a few weeks , then I asked to be referred to Mr O'Hara. My local OS thought it would be better to see Prof Schilders in Bradford for a scope, which I had in September. He debrided some of the Labrum, and some cartilage delamination too. He did tell me that due to the dysplasia ( which he classed as borderline, with a CE angle of 20 degrees) this might not help my pain. At that time I was struggling to walk long distances, and was in considerable pain after standing all day at work, but could still function relatively normally. Every now and then, the hip would catch and give out for a while, sometimes this would happen with every step, other times I could go for a few days without it happening. Post scope, I was on crutches for 6 weeks and had physio but as soon as I started to weight bear properly the pain got worse. I can now not walk for more than about 5 minutes without major pain, can't go around the supermarkets or walk my dog etc I have also cut my work hours as I can't do a full day, and am often in tears after an hour.The catching still happens daily. My left hip is also starting to act up, with groin pain, but no catching yet, so hoping its just compensation. I don't know why the scope made it so much worse, but I have heard it is quite common from others online who have had the same experiance. Hopefully they will understand more as the procedure is carried out more often.
I was referred to Mr Witt at 8 weeks post scope for a PAO to reconstruct the hip socket. He took different xrays , at angles not taken before, and said that the CE angle was just 7 degrees ( That is the amount of coverage of the femur- normal is 25+) so I am an ideal candidate for a PAO as long as the cartilage is not too worn.

So thats my story. Congratulations if you have managed to read this far and are still awake.
Hope it helps you,
Good luck with the exams
Kate xx

[Rayray]

Oh Summer - I hope that throat is better soon - throat infections make you feel really cr***y. Mr Villars is very good - Mr Ashworth at Torbay said that he was amazed what he could achieve with an arthroscope and is certainly at the top of his game. Interesting you are in the Financial field - I am a Chartered Management Accountant although I don't do this full time now as we run our own business, very handy though for keeping on top of the finances!!

Kate: we really are at opposite ends of the spectrum - my right hip measured 55 degrees. The letter I received this week says that even if this were taken at a slight angle it is 45 degrees at best hence the problems. Strange though, the left hip has been awful this week, probably because the right one was bad last and I was standing only on the left.

I received about 50 pages of info and forms today. The letter starts by saying i have been booked for a resurfacing but it may be converted to open Debridement if possible. I think in a way this is a good thing because I am now expecting the resurfacing, anything better than this is a bonus. I am sure that is why they do it. Had to laugh though as it said I shouldn't take my panty girdle in with me to hospital - I don't think I even quite know what it is apart from my Mother owning one in about 1965, maybe I am just out of touch!!

Have a good weekend and I hope you can rest.

[oscarsmum]

Rayray,

That sounds pretty deep!!!

I can't remember what the upper level of normal is -seem to think it is about 40degrees? I think the optimal measurement is about 30 degrees, but I'm not sure, do you have any ideas?

Resurfacing has always sounded a great option to me. You get to keep more bone and its easier when you eventually need to have a THR. It was always my first choice before I found I was a candidate for the PAO.I liked the fact that it doesn't have the restrictions post op that a THR has. I think you will be fine if you do need one. The main thing is that you will be able to start living again-even if you had to have a THR that would be worth it to get your life back on track.

The next few weeks will pass quicker than we expect.
Take care,
Kate x

[Rayray]

Hi Kate,

I was told and the letter confirms 30 degrees. I expect 25-35 is borderline although I don't really know. Every xray I had had seems to be rotated or at an angle. I have the arthrograms at the end of the month and I think these will give the first really true and accurate picture - I really want to see them.

All systems go now. Have filled out loads of forms - just a few more to go.

Take care.

[Hekate01]

I'd like a resurface Rayray if they'll let me, although i don't think i have enough decent bone and cartilage for one. But see shall see finally in 2 weeks time, i'm so excited. Then i can join you and Kate in systems go and recovery whoo hoo!!!! xx