Orthopedic Surgeon

[MikeH]

Can anyone recommend a good Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in hip problems?

[Devil]

The best one (practised many years in England) is Theodoros Christofi who works at the Areteio Hospital 22 200 300 in Strovolos (N'sa). He was recommended to us by a number of people and did my wife's hip. Unusually, the 'repaired' leg is exactly the same length as before (there are usually differences of ± 2 cm after hip operations) and she was walking without a limp after only a couple of weeks or so.

[Jim]

I had my total hip replacement at the Iasis hospital in Pafos by Dr Kritiotis, I had no problems at all, depending on what type you have fitted, he recommended a dry fit, no cement, disadvantage is you are on arm calipers for nine to ten weeks, advantage he said was the joint last twice as long no cement problem, you are given the choice..

All the best with it.

http://www.iasishospital.com/

[lincoln]

Yes... I see George Nicandrou at the Blue Cross Medical Center. He did my Total hip replacement. :grin:

He was trained in the UK and speaks fluent English. Nice chap.

I had a titanium hip and it was cement free . I was walking the afternoon after the op. Out the following day.

[Admin]

Cementless Joint Prostheses: Advantages and Disadvantages

A cementless prosthesis, also called a press-fit prosthesis, has a rough surface or porous coating that encourages the natural bone to grow onto it. New bone growth will span only 1 or 2 mm, so the surgeon must use special tools to shape the natural bone to fit snugly with the prosthesis.

A number of surgeons prefer cementless components because:

They believe cementless components offer a better long-term bond between the prostheses and bones.
Cementless components eliminate worry about the potential breakdown of cement.
The downsides to cementless prostheses are that:

Press-fit prostheses require healthy bones. Patients with low bone density due to osteoporosis may not be eligible for these components.
It can take up to three months for bone material to grow into a new joint component.1,2
Because it takes time for the natural bone to fully adhere to the new joint components, experts debate whether or not patients should postpone putting their full weight on new joints.

Peter..I would check you had a cement less fit as the edit says it takes nine to ten weeks for bone material to form over the new joint, you do not walk on cement less joint for several months ( that is to say put body weight on the new Prostheses), this is the problem with that type of fitting, but as no cement is used it does not over time deteriorate, so it can last a lot longer (we hope)

Either way mine is now nearly ten years since my total hip replacement, never looked back, no pain at all from the minute I woke up after the Op! best thing I did so much pain before..good luck to you and anyone contemplating this operation, go for it!

Jim...

also edit..from the Net.

How Soon Can A Patient Walk on a Cementless Hip or Knee Prosthesis?

Patients may be advised to avoid full weight-bearing on cementless components during the first 4 to 12 weeks after surgery. Limited partial weight-bearing is allowed. This cautious approach lengthens a patient's rehabilitation schedule but guards against stressing or loosening a new joint, which can be painful and require a second surgery.

Hip Replacement Surgery Video
Hip Replacement Surgery
Alternatively, other patients may be told to begin putting full body weight on the new joints just a day or two after surgery.3 Studies of cementless hip replacements support this approach, showing that well-fitted cementless hip prostheses can handle the pressure.3-6 Full weight-bearing during early recovery and rehabilitation promotes healthy muscle and bone tissue and lowers the risk of post-surgical deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Research in this area is ongoing. For now, surgeons must base their rehabilitation recommendations on many factors, such as the joint being replaced, the specific component being used, the patient's physiology, and past experience. Patients who are concerned with this

[propforward]

I have had both hips done at the General, one with cement the other without, both times I spent 5 days in hospital, I certainly wouldn't have fancied walking the same afternoon, the replacement without cement Dr Metaxis told not to put weight on it for several weeks.

[Jim]

Yes I agree and as I was told the same, mostly I did but you do lose balance, I was using arm calipers for nine weeks, even then I used a cane for confidence for a short period, this is probably the worst thing about push fit the time it takes to knit around you leg bone...anyone for breakfast,

Seriously best thing I have had done, luckily I was on medical insurance at that time, the 8K bill would not have done my bank balance any good at all, that was ten years ago. I did consider using Dr Metaxis at the time in fact he did the consultancy and checked my Xrays a good man as you say.

Although covered by medical insurance I chose the Iasis private hospital, like a 5 star hotel you have your own room extra bed for the wife to stay if she wished, she declined the offer, toilet and shower room plus local TV, food though was worse than the NHS, I did mention this to the doctors they just smiled, so the good wife brought in takeaways or a sandwich by the way they kept me in for over two weeks, got to know all the nurses that could speak English very well, the only uncomfortable thing was the removal of the drains, not a pleasant experience, but I am a wimp! I did enjoyed my stay there at the Iasis..but I hope that was the last visit!


Jim

Peter did you not have drains in the wound? if so it would have been impossible to get out of bed, I hated using those cardboard Pee bottles, no choice though..

[lincoln]

Hi Jim,

yes I had two drains these were removed the next day. I walked slowly using a zimmer frame. I was discharged with the zimmer frame and I walked with great care. I progressed to Crutches after 10 days and then slowly progressed to a walking stick. Total time to be able to walk unaided 10 weeks. Yes it was totally cement free.

[Jim]

Only thing that matters Peter all went well...When did you have the operation?

[lincoln]

Jim

I had it done in September 2011. I feel as good as new. I could hardly walk before the Op.

[Jeffbinin]

Jim - interesting comment on the food at the Iasis. My wife has to go in occasionally for treatment. Sometimes the food is a bit bland - necessary because of her condition. But last Friday for lunch she had a delicious pork chop, Cyprus potatoes and salad. It looked great!

The doctors, nurses and other staff are so professional and caring at the Iasis. My wife, in desperation, recently had to phone her doctor on Easter Sunday afternoon on his mobile, and he thought it was a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Try doing that on the NHS.

[Admin]

Jeff.

The food when I was in that hospital for over two weeks was terrible, I can eat most things, one lunch time some friends dropped by, I left the chicken as it was so over cooked even my mate could not chew it, it could have bounced off the wall..Things may have improved as they certainly needed to do so..

Jim..

I lost over a stone in weight during that two week stay, I just wished I could have kept it off, unfortunately no.

[Jeffbinin]

Jim - yes, my wife came across the overcooked chicken. On that day she swapped it for my prawns from a Debenhams take-away salad.... The best cook is the little lady who works at the weekends.

BTW, in a four-day spell at the Iasis recently my wife put on 4kgs. Mostly from rehydration & protein drips, it has to be said..