Joint Replacement Surgery

Artificial Hip Replacement: State-of-the-Art Hip Joint Gives Patients Pain-Free Future

From Quarterly (Winter 2004)

After dealing with severe arthritis in her joints for over eight years, Beverly Rhidenour was no stranger to pain. The aching in her knees, which she dealt with for years, was soon overshadowed by the excruciating pain she began to feel in her left hip. But trip after trip to the doctor yielded the same answer—the 51-year-old was too young to even consider joint replacement surgery. So with medication and exercise, she tried to control the pain, but it eventually became so severe, she knew she needed another opinion.

“My hip hurt so badly that I couldn’t even walk right. I had to basically carry my left hip when I walked,” she said. “Sitting for long periods of time, walking and even sleeping hurt. I just couldn’t take it anymore, so I went to my doctor here in Groesbeck and was referred to Scott & White.”

Mrs. Rhidenour met with Kirby Hitt, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in joint replacement surgery. During their first appointment, he told her about a new, state-of-the-art hip joint that was recently approved by the federal government, and Mrs. Rhidenour knew she had finally found the right option for her.

“He took one look at my X-ray and told me I needed a new hip, and that he could give me one,” she said. “I wanted to cry, because I had already braced myself to hear again that I was too young. But he told me I was a perfect candidate. I was so excited that somebody finally believed me about the pain, and they wanted to help me.”

The osteoarthritis that had caused so much pain in her knees also was tearing down the cartilage in her hip, which meant her bones were basically rubbing against each other every time she took a step. Because her hip had degenerated so much, Dr. Hitt knew surgery was the answer.

“She needed a total hip replacement, which meant replacing the damaged cartilage with a new hip joint,” Dr. Hitt said. “And in her case, she was the perfect candidate for the new ceramic hip joint. Normally, hip joints are made out of plastic and metal, which gives them a limited life. But the new ceramic technology is so much stronger and more durable, these joints can last up to 20 years.”

The new joint is made of ceramic on ceramic bearing surfaces, and in testing has demonstrated less wear than conventional plastic/metal joint systems. The joint combines a titanium sleeve with the ceramic insert to increase strength of the implant. Patients given the traditional hip replacements could expect only 5 – 10 years of durability, which is why patients under the age of 60 were rarely offered the surgery. But the new hip technology, which is expected to offer patients long-term wear, is proving to be a perfect option for active patients.

“The ceramic technology is creating a whole new world for people who have spent years in pain,” Dr. Hitt said. “More and more younger patients are needing relief, and the technology is now matching the patient population. We have used this new hip on patients as young as 23 and as old as 65. It’s perfect for the younger, active patients and there are few concerns about the durability of this new technology.”

Mrs. Rhidenour had her hip replacement surgery in October in a minimally invasive procedure (using only a 6cm incision) designed to allow for a more rapid recovery. She said she noticed a change immediately after the surgery, and added that it gets better every day.

“I felt the difference as soon as I woke up,” she said. “The physical therapists showed me what exercises to do, and I do them every day. I can stand, I can walk, and I can even sleep. I feel like a new person, and I think Dr. Hitt is just wonderful. One person summed up my recovery best: She told me when she first saw me that, ‘The pain was not in my face anymore,’ and I think that’s the best way to put it.”

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