Has anyone had experience with these hip surgeons?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi there,
I'm currently looking for a good hip surgeon based in South East UK to perform a total hip replacement for me. I'm only 34 years of age and want to make absolutely sure I see the right person and get the right advice and ultimately the right hip! I know from research that there's so many different types and materials and surgeons seem to offer conflicting opinions for younger patients like me.
Can anyone give any feedback on the type of care they received from any of these surgeons:
Sarah Muirhead-Allwood
Simon Birdle
Hugh Apthorp
Marcus Bankes
It seems that many surgeons will generally use the same hip type/material for all their operations, but I'm looking more for a specialist who fits a wide range of hips and will take the time to discuss what's best for me.
Really appreciate any advice you can offer!
Liam
0 likes, 12 replies
pam031060 liamfahy7
Posted
I don't know any of the surgeons you list but I bet you get replies from people who do. What I would say is that when I visited my local hospital the consultant I saw was very patient and took the time to explain the various options. He gave me his opinions and I went away and researched to make sure I was happy with his recommendations. However if you already have a preference I am sure they will discuss this with you. I also feel that if the consultant you see isn't willing to perform the type of procedure you want, they will suggest other consultants who may fit your requirements. They really are very understanding. I have spoken with a number of people who have also had a similar experience. I believe you can look consultants up on a register so see what they specialise in, I also found their secretary's to be a wealth of information and knowledge. Good luck in your quest and take it easy ....
liamfahy7 pam031060
Posted
Tech78 liamfahy7
Posted
My first surgeon was Laurence O'Hara and my second/third was with Mr Middleton who I can not recommend highly enough. Him and his team were brilliant.
Have you goggled these surgeons, you should be able to find out their success rates on line.
Good luck
liamfahy7 Tech78
Posted
By the way I live in Kent but I'm prepared to travel anywhere across the SE or London to see the right person. I will indeed Google the specialists you've mentioned.
Thanks again and all the very best to you!
cheryl99365 liamfahy7
Posted
Can't help with your surgeon quest, as I live in the Midlands, but regarding the type of hip fitted in younger people, my understanding is that they can use a ceramic hip, which is more expensive that the "normal" one that requires replacing every 10 years or so. It is built to last, so barring minor technical faults, which can be carried out relatively easily (sorry, I didn't delve any further on what this means!), they don't require replacing. You may be amused to know that I am considered to be "young" at the tender age of 55, and I was certainly the youngest on my unit by about 17 years when I had my THR 13 days ago. Good luck in your research.
Kind regards
Cheryl
liamfahy7 cheryl99365
Posted
Tech78 liamfahy7
Posted
Regarding the revision, ignore it! Each person is different and depending on the bone structure you can have numerous revisions - I'm already on my 2nd through complications. Things are evolving all the time so try not to worry about the future, just concentrate on the first replacement and recovering from that :0)
sonia97062 liamfahy7
Posted
jennifer2000 liamfahy7
Posted
Mr Bankes did both my hips this year (ceramic on ceramic, uncemented). He, his team, and Guys Hospital were all absolutely fantastic. I chose him because he specialises in young people and (I believe) pioneered the use of Ceramic in the UK. let me know if you have any questions. PS I'm 39.
Jennifer, UK
liamfahy7 jennifer2000
Posted
Thanks so much for your reply. I have heard good things about Mr. Bankes. Would you mind awfully if I ask another couple of questions?...
1. Does Mr Bankes also fit cemented or hybrid hips? Or purely ceramic on ceramic uncemented?
2. Did he talk to you about risks of fracturing/shattering? Are you very active and does this worry you?
3. Did he talk to you about the risks of ceramic on ceramic squeaking?
4. Do you know anything about the logevity of these hips and also how many revisions you can have? I worry about people as young as us having this surgery as I know you can't have an infinite amount of revisions!
Sorry about all the questions but it's so useful for me when I find someone of a similar age to me who's going through this surgery.
Thanks a million!,
Liam
jennifer2000 liamfahy7
Posted
good questions all! It goes without saying that my responses are my opinion, I'm not a medical expert rather they are my interpretation of the medical mumbo jumbo I've read / heard :-)
1. Mr Bankes specialises in and only uses Ceramic on Ceramic. Mine were uncemented but I'm not sure he'd refuse to use cement if required.
2. He did talk me through the risks. I don't remember him discussing shattering but I've done some research since Christine's (?) comment on your other thread. Ceramic is very, very tough, the risks of shattering seem less probable than you actually shattering your own femur head. My belief is that the risk of shattering is outweighed by the benefits of ceramic to young, active people. I am going to ask him about it when I have my follow up but whatever the conclusion I feel I've got the best joint for me. I was active when first diagnoses, nothing bonkers just gym, running etc. Now I've got two new hips I'm aspiring to get fit, start kettle bell training, mountain biking and rock climbing. I fully expect my new joint to cope with that :-)
3. He did mention it but my pre opp hips sounded like someone breaking rocks so a squeak would be a happy compromise. To be honest I thought it could be quite funny, just imagine swinging your legs through boring meetings *squeek, squeek, squeek*. However I've not had that happen.
4. I was told 20 years, not because that's when they fail but because that's how long they have been around so far with no significant failure numbers recorded. In theory it could last forever if you're sensible? Revisions are not such a big deal for uncemented joints. Because the joint is naturally fused with your bone they will simply replace any failed component eg ceramic ball rather than performing a full revision. Again though, you may never need one.
Hope that helps and makes sense!
Jennifer, UK
stephen95303 liamfahy7
Posted
Im 31 and had mine done 10 weeks ago on Friday, I've been back at work on the buildings 2 days now and everything is great, so it is well worth doing. I live in the South East, I had mine done by a MR R Slack, he was very straight forward and didn't talk much but to be fair I didn't ask much. He however oozed with confidence, which I found very reassuring. he assured me that he is the best at what he does working with younger people and that he will leave me able to have revision surgery, he also said that not to let anyone else do it and wait for him. Now I don't know if he was just a cocky bloke or he is a dab hand with a hammer and chisel but I have defiantly got no complaints. I also don't even know what kind of hip I've got, he just left me feeling this man knows what he's doing, so i left him to it. All I know is I was bouncing round at work today like i never had a problem and I am a lot happier. So I'll worry about revision surgery when it comes, I've spent to many years being held back by it. Just going to enjoy it now.
Best of luck with what ever you choose
Steve