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Periacetabular osteotomy for hip dysplasia coming up!

Posted , 49 users are following.

PAO_Mum
PAO_Mum

I'm 39 and having a PAO to tackle one side of my hip dysplasia in April (2012) and would really love to speak to someone whose been through it. I know all about the operation, but it's the recovery and what I will and won't be able to do that's worrying me. Anyone out there??

2 likes, 156 replies

156 Replies

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  • phil49
    phil49

    Posted

    Hi. I didn't have hip dysplasia but osteo-arthritis but the procedure is generally the same. I had my right hip replaced in Sept 2011 under epidural. I would recommend epidural. As long as you don't mind hearing sawing, grinding etc. and feeling the odd vibration, it is much preferable to general. The recovery time is much quicker and the side effects are considerably reduced. I used my ipod during surgery which cut out most of the sounds. I was on my feet the following day, albeit with a frame, and the physios encouraged me to move about and try to walk as soon as possible. I was using 2 crutches after 2 days and 1 crutch after about a week. I was discharged from hospital after 4 days. The physios give you exercises to do when you are home. It is vital that you do these exercises as they build up the muscles that were damaged during the operation and help you to put weight on the operated joint. I was walking fairly well after about 2 weeks with the aid of the crutch and moved onto a stick after about 4 weeks. I am now 6 months down the line and have no problems walking without any aids. I still get the odd ache and pain when I have overdone it a bit, but I can walk for about 2 miles without any adverse reactions. I am back to gardening (with care) and all other normal daily activities. Do not be tempted to drive until the consultant gives you clearance as you will not be insured until they do. No one else can give you this clearance, only the consultant. Hope this helps a bit.
    • rachel74479
      rachel74479 phil49

      Posted

      PAO surgery is NOTHING like a THR (total hip replacement). PAO is much more intense. The recovery time is double, the hospital time is double. I know people like to think they know what youre going through, but truth is, you dont. While THR is a big surgery its MUCH LESS invasive than PAO.
    • rose0000
      rose0000 rachel74479

      Posted

      I disagree Rachel. A total hip replacement is far more invasive than PAO. I had the opportunity to have either surgery and choose a hip replacement. Having an entire joint replaced is very serious stuff.
    • Nikki245
      Nikki245 rachel74479

      Posted

      Hi Rachel,

      I don't know what your personal experiences are from an orthopedic point of view, but I feel that your comments are not very well informed or helpful. I agree that both THR and PAO are not the same, but they are both major surgeries. Due to improved surgical techniques, good pain management, smaller incisions and good rehab/exercise programmes I do not agree that PAO is more invasive or requires double the amount of time in hospital. A PAO generally means about four days in hospital if all goes well, and weight bearing from 6-8 weeks. 

      Having any surgery is daunting and requires a period of healing and rehab, but comments that are accurate, informative and helpful are the most useful.

       

    • megan85030
      megan85030 rose0000

      Posted

      You are honestly so wrong... Hip replacements have come SO far. With a hip replacement, you are up and walking, full weight bearing, that day or the next day. You are out of the hospital within 2-3 days. With a PAO, you are in the hospital anywhere from 4-8 days and absolutely no weight bearing for 6-8 weeks. Hip replacements are so straight forward. A PAO is based largely on the severity of the hip dysplasia. The fact that the hip socket is being held in place with 2-7 screws says enough. You are just so wrong to say that a hip replacement is harder, because it's not!

    • kat85766
      kat85766 rose0000

      Posted

      Totally wrong Rose, an osteotomy involves breaking your pelvis in several places & requires blood transfusions to cope with the blood loss. 7 day hospital stay & non weight bearing for 6 weeks. Please don't comment of you know nothing about the procedure. I am a surgical nurse, so I know for a fact your wrong!

    • rose0000
      rose0000 kat85766

      Posted

      Every kind of major surgery is serious Kat, it is not a competition. We are here to support each other. It is not unusual in either operation to have a blood transfusion.

      This forum is happily here to support everyone. I don't know anyone that is 'up and walking' the same day as a full hip replacement. It would indeed be a miracle if this was the case. I am sure all of us would happily skip out of the hospital - as would you! I am sure both procedures in the fullness of time will be null and void, better solutions await us, that I am sure.

       

    • lucia62300
      lucia62300 rose0000

      Posted

      I agree with rose it doesn't matter what you have done it's still a major operation and they all come with risks and everyone responds differently and heals and recovers a different rates.

      I work on a orthopaedic ward for occupational therapy team and I myself are waiting for a pao.

      I think there are positives and negatives for each surgery! Working with patients who have hip replacements yes they are up the day after surgery if all is well to mobilise if able the recovery is different to a pao because it's a different surgery.

      Not everyone's joints are the same hence why different operations are advised! I'm sure no one wants to have any type of big op that interferes with life regardless of if it may improve things.

      We should defiantly be supporting each other weather your in hospital for 5 days or 8 weather you can mobilise FWB or not. We are all having our joints fixed and we are all in a scary situation and if anything people on this group should be a lot

      More understanding.

  • PersianCatFan
    PersianCatFan

    Posted

    Hi PAO mum,

    I am having a PAO in a few months time privately (not NHS), I am a few years older than you and it would be great to hear from you - have you had the PAO yet? I have only been diagnosed with hip dysplasia this year, despite my dad having it and me having had problems for a few years.... it took my 3rd hip surgeon to diagnose it from the first set of x rays he did.

    I am very nervous about the PAO and it would be great to talk to someone who has had it or is also facing it.

    Kind regards

  • PAO_Mum
    PAO_Mum

    Posted

    Persian Cat Fan - I'm just home! Do you want to give me your email address and we can mail away from the forum? I can't work out a way to do this privately (perhaps you can?) so you may not want to.

    As as immediate response, I would say that I understand your nerves as it is a big operation, but my pain was controlled very well indeed so I've actually only experienced discomfort (apart from a couple of moments when I've really stretched myself). My operation was at Guy's under Marcus Bankes; as he has private patients, I was wondering if you are one of his?

    You sound like you've been through it..... I met someone through another forum just as she had had her operation and her insight was extremely useful. It would be great to pay this forward so I hope I can help.

    Kind regards, Annabel

    • kat85766
      kat85766 PAO_Mum

      Posted

      Hi PAL Mum, I hope your recovery has gone well? I'm really interested to find out from you how you were after & during your recovery. Would you mind e-mailing me? My PAO surgery is in 9 days, I have 3 children & I'm feeling really anxious about it. Any info or tips will be greatly recieved xx

    • louise03392
      louise03392 kat85766

      Posted

      Hi, I am having surgery on Monday and would love an honest opinion on the recovery. I have two children under 3. I have had a hip replacement and wondered if the recovery is anything like that?

      Thank you

  • PersianCatFan
    PersianCatFan

    Posted

    Hi Annabel - mine is under Bankes and it is just a few days away - gulp! I am on the yahoo support group which MArcus Banke's website linked to - are you on that? Can you email me on that - I am PersianCatFan on that too.

    Fiona

    x

    • joanne34502
      joanne34502 PersianCatFan

      Posted

      Hi could you plz tell me your experance with your hip operation ..im looking into going private because the nhs wont help me
    • hannah23234
      hannah23234 joanne34502

      Posted

      Hi Joanne 

      I am three months post op. I started with complaining to my nurse about pain/clicking etc in which resulted in being sent for scans etc. From that I saw a specialist in Doncaster who suggested the surgery. 

      It is VERY painful and invasive. I was on crutches for 9 weeks and very limited to day to day activities even down to being able to carry plates. I have healed well skeletal but my muscles still have a lot of healing left as there is a lot of nerve damage due to the intensity of the surgery. I still can't do any strenuous activities but they did warn it could be a 12 month healing process 

      Good luck 

      Hannah 

    • lindsay26864
      lindsay26864 joanne34502

      Posted

      Hi Joanne,

      I am 14 months post op, I have to sa the op was nowhere mear as bad as I thought. Its a rollercoaster ride but ao worth it. I had my screws out 3 weeks ago which was a breeze. Who is your consultant? There is a facebook page if you are interested x

    • lindsay26864
      lindsay26864 joanne34502

      Posted

      Hi Joanne,

      I am 14 months post op, I have to say the op was nowhere mear as bad as I thought. Its a rollercoaster ride but ao worth it. I had my screws out 3 weeks ago which was a breeze. Who is your consultant? There is a facebook page if you are interested x

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