Question
My son  had a repair on displaced hip a year ago. the initial MRI looked good and promising but the contrast MRI showed a pretty deep area of not getting blood. he had another 6 weeks of just crutches then another MRI to see if it is regenerating itself at all it wasn't. They tried a core decompression and drilling holes in femur head, as well as bone marrow therapy (inject into head to try and regrow bone cell) to try to jump start/regenerate blow flow to the head. None of this has worked and now at age 14 looking at hip replacement but doing it prior to finishing growing seems to raise problems and questions. Is there an problem with repeated hip replacements? We were told 2 max. What products are out there today to make this better? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer
Dear JC

All good questions.

Once you give a hip replacement to a boy of 14, he will not grow anymore.  So that's something to consider.  At 14 I was about 5 feet 5 inches tall, and the doctor's felt that height was fine for me.
But please investigate the growth issue for your son.

As far as two hip revisions at the most, that's simply not true.  I have had four hip replacements on each side, a total of eight hip revisions, and I lead a pretty normal life.  I work full time, travel and take care of a family, even after four hips on each side, I don't feel cheated in anyway. There are things I can and cannot do, but I am not a big sports person to begin with.

But I will caution you that you have to find a orthopedist that is well versed in revision surgery.  For one of my revisions, I was sent to the Anderson Clinic in Arlington VA because they are the top doctors in the nation, as is the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.  Your doctor MUST have experience when you go for revisions.

Also the next point is that the hips now, are much more perfected than when I had my first surgery in the 1970's.  The hips last longer and the patients can do more than I was able to do.

I would urge you to have a few consults, talk to patients of the doctor you choose, and look into bringing your son to either the Hospital of Special Surgery in New York (ask for Dr. Padgett), or the Anderson Clinic in Arlington (ask for Dr. Charles Engh).  Those are the top surgeons and in some cases, hip prostheses can be specially made for your son.

I wish you and your family the best of luck.  Just make sure you do your homework and choose a good surgeon.  Most surgeons can put in the first replacement, but after the first ones, you need a very experienced doctor.

Sharon