Sep 23, 2008 8:25 am US/Eastern
HealthWatch: Alternative Method To Hip Replacement
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Total hip replacements are done more than a quarter million times a year in the United States. Recovery can be a long and sometimes painful process. But now there's a new surgical method getting patients on their feet a lot sooner.
Also in Dr. Max Gomez's report, news of the innovative research that could result in big changes in radiation schedules during breast cancer treatment.
It turns out shorter, more intense courses of radiation treatment may work just as well as more drawn-out therapy for breast cancer patients. The alternative approach requires one to three weeks of daily therapy - as opposed to five to seven weeks for the standard approach.
Canadian researchers say that after 10 years, the cancer recurrence rate was virtually identical with both forms of radiation. The more intense, short version uses radioactive seeds that are implanted in the region where the original tumor was removed.
Hip replacements are usually done for osteoarthritis, sort of a wear and tear arthritis where the nice, smooth cartilage in the hip has worn out and left bone grinding on bone. Replacing the hip joint relieves the pain and improves mobility. But it can take a while before you can really put a lot of weight on your new joint.
Here's a better way.
Just getting out of her chair has finally driven Judith Rosenstein to go for a total hip replacement. Actually, pain getting out of a chair was only part of the problem.
"Walking in general, I sway. I'm always in a lot of pain. And it's been to the point where even at night, I cant sleep because of the pain," said Rosenstein.
Dr. Gomez says it's not surprising. Both of her hips are shot and both need to be replaced. But the traditional approach to hip replacement involves: "You have to cut muscles and tendons and I think it does slow down the rehab and it's trickier as far as keeping the hip located, meaning preventing a dislocation of an artificial hip," said Dr. Roy Davidovitch, of NYU Hospital for joint diseases.
But Dr. Davidovitch does it another way. It starts with a very different operating table. The patient's feet are placed in boots, which helps manipulate the legs.
"You can pull, push-pull the leg. Internal, external rotate the leg. The most important part, the ability to extend, to extend the leg," said Davidovitch.
But the surgical approach is also different. It's a small incision in the front of the hip, which allows surgeons to follow a natural plane down to the joint, avoiding cutting muscles that slow recovery.
"And that's been found to have a much faster recovery time, with some patients being able to abandon their cane or walker within 4 days, 7 days, on the average about 14 days people are able to walk unassisted," said Davidovitch.
Ruth Moore had her hip replaced using the new technique just 2 months ago. Not only is she walking well, she's pain free.
"I just walked two miles! There's no pain, no pain at all. I'm very happy!" said Moore.
It's also what Judith is hoping for.
"I'm looking forward to taking a walk, to walk around Bloomingdales without a problem and not have to walk with a cane," said Rosenstein.
The actual artificial hip is the same as would be implanted with a traditional operation and it lasts just as long. It's the recovery that's shorter. Artificial hips these days are routinely lasting 15 to 20 years and more, so its become a good option for younger patients in a lot of pain who used to have to wait.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
World's Most Useless Facts
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments