Hear What Patients Have To Say / Patient Success Stories
Dennis Vacha
Joint deterioration can affect every aspect of a person's life. In the early stages, it is not uncommon for people to ignore joint discomfort. As the problem progresses, activities like walking and standing become challenging and painful. This was true for Dennis Vacha, who was an active sports official. As the joint deterioration increased, so did the pain in his hip, making officiating increasingly difficult. "It made my life miserable, and I thought my officiating had come to an end," said Dennis.
Even though Dennis was hesitant, he went to see an orthopedic surgeon who recommended a hemi hip replacement. The ReCap® Femoral Resurfacing System replaces the diseased surface of the femoral head and is designed to restore the normal anatomy and biomechanical function of the hip joint. The major advantage of the ReCap® Femoral Resurfacing System is its conservative nature. By avoiding medullary canal intrusion, it preserves valuable femoral bone stock, making it a bone-preserving alternative to total hip arthroplasty. A 2006 study published by Girard, J. et al. in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (British) concluded that a group of young patients with femoral hemi-resurfacing were able to maintain a higher average activity level versus a similar group of patients who received a total hip arthroplasty1.
The fact that Dennis would be able to continue his love for refereeing encouraged him to work diligently during his rehabilitation. Even though the recovery time after hip resurfacing can be substantially reduced versus recovery time from traditional total hip replacement, returning to your daily activities depends on your individual circumstances. It is important to consult with your surgeon or therapist for advice on acceptable activities.
1 Girard, J. et al. Biomechanical Reconstruction of the Hip. A Randomised Study Comparing Total Hip Resurfacing and Total Hip Arthroplasty. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (British). 88-B: 721-26, 2006.
While the patient in the story is a true recipient of this device, results are not necessarily typical, indicative or representative of all recipient patients. This device has been used successfully in achieving restored mobility to many patients. However, as with any implanted device, there are surgical and post-operative factors affecting performance, which ultimately result in unpredictable variable outcomes, including levels of mobility and pain. Due to these variables, it is not possible to predict or warrant specific results or patient satisfaction. These factors include, but are not limited to, the patient's pre and post-operative health conditions, weight, activity level, and adherence to instructions regarding the use of the device. Potential risks include, but are not limited to, loosening, dislocation, fracture, wear, and infection, any of which can require additional surgery. For additional information including risks and warnings, talk to your surgeon and see the full patient risk information for the ReCap® Femoral resurfacing device on Biomet.com.
The persons named in this article have consented to be named and have given Biomet®, Inc. the exclusive right to use their personal and medical information for educational purposes.
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