Re: Surgeon tried to dissuade me from surface hip replacement

[Guest guest]

We've all heard this before. Arrogance in doctors is detrimental to your

health.

My response. Ho hummmm.

Des Tuck

2 unskewed BHR's by Treacy

In a message dated 1/16/2004 11:33:39 AM Pacific Standard Time,

eeisman@... writes:

Am all set to have right hip surface replacement with Dr. Wm. Kennedy in

Sarasota, Florida.

He did my left about two years ago and am happy with result.

Now, a very prominent orthopedic surgeon told me results are skewed form

McMiin and from DeSmet and these replacements do not last long and i will be

in

trouble down the road...ions being cast off into blood stream...and need new

replacement sooner.

He did say that Dr. Kennedy is a gifted surgeon.

AAArrrgggh..any comments?

[Guest guest]

All I can tell you is that when I went to see my OS post-surgery (both

times), what he said amounted to " WOWEEE " .

When I saw my GP who originally referred me to the top hip guy at Palo Alto

Medical Foundation (who was just as discouraging as this " prominent surgeon " ) a

couple of years later, she could hardly contain her amazement at my current

flexibility compared to the last time she saw me.

When I sat next to a young, cocky orthopod at a party not too long ago and

told him about resurfacing and he blew it off, I asked if he'd like to see me

demonstrate a kick to his chest. He politely declined.

Those of us who have been resurfed successfully, and it sounds like that's

almost everybody in this group, are living proof that these " prominent " surgeons

are poorly informed.

Who would you believe, us or them?

Des Tuck

In a message dated 1/16/2004 2:37:50 PM Pacific Standard Time,

painless6@... writes:

Do these " prominent surgeons " have any sources for their negative

statements? I'm sure we would all be interested in any information that has

somehow missed coming to the attention of all of us here who have spent our

time and effort doing exhaustive research on the subject. Truly, if they

have startling new facts that indicate that I need to make early plans for a

revision, I want to know.

On the other hand, if they are blowing off resurfacing by parroting the

scuttlebutt heard at the last medical society dinner when they asked a

random sample of other " prominent surgeons " if this resurfacing thing has

any merits, I would find these remarks irresponsible and even damaging. They

should apologize to the doctors they are impugning and to the patients they

are discouraging.

[Guest guest]

Dear Diane:

In general, a physician criticizing a fellow physician

to a patient is unethical. There is obviously a

conflict of interest and the criticizing physician may

have something to gain. There is a format for

physicians to criticize one another. It is a vibrant

format and it is rich with information. It is the

world of professional journals where we all publish

when we have something to say. Criticism in that

format takes the form of published data which either

refutes or supports findings/hypotheses/etc. If your

physician can't give you specific references to

published material that supports his position, the

information should not be considered valid. At the

best it is anecdotal, and he should state that.

I am making my comments as a physician and an

ethicist, and also as a patient who has benefited from

the research and developments in resurfacing. Dr.

DeSmet published his results so they are open for

scutiny. He did my surgery and his data was available

for my perusal.

If Dr. DeSmet can be critized, he should be, but it

should be in a format where we all can benefit from

that criticism. Ask your physician to put forth the

information for all of us to read so that we can

benefit from it. If he can't cite the information

then I think you should consider looking elsewhere for

advice.

Tom Simpson MD

RBHR DeSmet Nov 19, 2003

--- eeisman@... wrote:

> Hi everyone.

> Am all set to have right hip surface replacement

> with Dr. Wm. Kennedy in

> Sarasota, Florida.

>

> He did my left about two years ago and am happy with

> result.

>

> Now, a very prominent orthopedic surgeon told me

> results are skewed form

> McMiin and from DeSmet and these replacements do not

> last long and i will be in

> trouble down the road...ions being cast off into

> blood stream...and need new

> replacement sooner.

>

> He did say that Dr. Kennedy is a gifted surgeon.

>

> AAArrrgggh..any comments?

> Diane

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/16/04 3:17:23 PM Eastern Standard Time,

chengek@... writes:

>

> If Dr. DeSmet can be critized, he should be, but it

> should be in a format where we all can benefit from

> that criticism. Ask your physician to put forth the

> information for all of us to read so that we can

> benefit from it. If he can't cite the information

> then I think you should consider looking elsewhere for

> advice.

>

> Tom Simpson MD

> RBHR DeSmet Nov 19, 2003

I am also a physician and the orthopedist I spoke to said Dr. Kennedy was a

gifted surgeon. However, he did criticize the studies. My own orthopedist

feels that noone knows for sure at this time...but I should go ahead and get the

resurfacing as planned.

Thank you for your comments.

Diane Batshaw Eisman, M.D.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/16/04 7:26:53 PM Eastern Standard Time,

ecrow@... writes:

>

> Hope the nerves are settling,

>

> Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02

Yes, thank you all so much.

I spoke with my own orthopedist, who feels,that he personally does not have

the answers about which is better...but I should go ahead and do the

resurfacing.

Diane

[Guest guest]

Do these " prominent surgeons " have any sources for their negative

statements? I'm sure we would all be interested in any information that has

somehow missed coming to the attention of all of us here who have spent our

time and effort doing exhaustive research on the subject. Truly, if they

have startling new facts that indicate that I need to make early plans for a

revision, I want to know.

On the other hand, if they are blowing off resurfacing by parroting the

scuttlebutt heard at the last medical society dinner when they asked a

random sample of other " prominent surgeons " if this resurfacing thing has

any merits, I would find these remarks irresponsible and even damaging. They

should apologize to the doctors they are impugning and to the patients they

are discouraging.

Mike Trautman

C2K, Kennedy, Sep 03

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane,

You state that you had your left done 2 years ago and are happy with the

result and then go on to let yourself be apparently rattled by another

doctor..........??

As others have said ask him to produce his findings on how McMinn and DeSmet

are skewing results etc........ From what I see here DeSmet is taking on

just about anyone in any condition and performing Resurface so obviously

isn't picking select cases......... Would sound to me like he is a US

surgeon who is feeling a little threatened that people are prepared to fly

out of the country to avoid his skills. Word obviously gets around the

community and these guys have ego's if nothing else..........

One here close by in Aust was very anti it at one stage as reported by a

fellow resurfacer trying to get him interested preop........ When finally

pushed because my friend had heaps of info he simply stated 'well I am just

too old and too close to retirement to go learn new processes and therefore

don't want to know about it'............ So you really have to be aware of

what is the bottom line motivation whenever a surgeon or other professional

puts forward their views on something.............. it isn't always straight

forward.........i.e. they like us are human..........

Hope the nerves are settling,

Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02

> Hi everyone.

> Am all set to have right hip surface replacement with Dr. Wm. Kennedy in

> Sarasota, Florida.

>

> He did my left about two years ago and am happy with result.

>

> Now, a very prominent orthopedic surgeon told me results are skewed form

> McMiin and from DeSmet and these replacements do not last long and i will

be in

> trouble down the road...ions being cast off into blood stream...and need

new

> replacement sooner.

>

> He did say that Dr. Kennedy is a gifted surgeon.

>

> AAArrrgggh..any comments?

> Diane

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

He's right Diane. Mine fell apart last week but being a skilled

carpenter I made a new piece and put it in myself. My wife held the

flashlight (it took me a long time) and I did it with a minimum of

pain.

Metal ions in the blood. Now that's another story but I am having

trouble with Birch ions in my blood now. And dogs sniff at me and try

to hoist their leg...they should hoist their leg on this " prominent

orthopedic surgeon "

Cap

> Hi everyone.

> Am all set to have right hip surface replacement with Dr. Wm.

Kennedy in

> Sarasota, Florida.

>

> He did my left about two years ago and am happy with result.

>

> Now, a very prominent orthopedic surgeon told me results are skewed

form

> McMiin and from DeSmet and these replacements do not last long and

i will be in

> trouble down the road...ions being cast off into blood stream...and

need new

> replacement sooner.

>

> He did say that Dr. Kennedy is a gifted surgeon.

>

> AAArrrgggh..any comments?

> Diane

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

results are skewed form

> McMiin and from DeSmet and these replacements do not last long and

i will be in

> trouble down the road...ions being cast off into blood stream...and

need new

> replacement sooner.

>

Man, I love this metal ion thing....what would they do if they

couldn't use that as a " reason " for not doing a resurf? They do tend

to forget that the same components are used in some THR's - I guess

they feel the body knows how to discern which procedure one has, and

the ions from totals are not harmful, but the ones from resurf are. I

keep waiting for the evidence that there's been harm done somewhere.

Show me the evidence!

In the meantime, I have to go. There's running and dancing and rock-

climbing and yoga-ing and the basic business of life that I must

happily attend to. Even if it fails (and I strongly doubt it) and I

need a THR in a few years, these painfree years I have now are a

gift, and I will thankfully use them to the best of my ability.

Ta-ta for now!

Lois

Dr Gross 8/6/03

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane

The depth of feeling that has been in the responses to your posting

shows just how passionate we all are about resurfacing!!

However, only time will tell....as we are pioneering a new technique.

But all the reasons that persuaded you to do the first one must be

loads stronger now - as you now have two further years of experience

under your belt: your own and that of hundreds of other hippies.

Best wishes

ine

C2K 04/03

> Hi everyone.

> Am all set to have right hip surface replacement with Dr. Wm.

Kennedy in

> Sarasota, Florida.

>

> He did my left about two years ago and am happy with result.

>

> Now, a very prominent orthopedic surgeon told me results are skewed

form

> McMiin and from DeSmet and these replacements do not last long and

i will be in

> trouble down the road...ions being cast off into blood stream...and

need new

> replacement sooner.

>

> He did say that Dr. Kennedy is a gifted surgeon.

>

> AAArrrgggh..any comments?

> Diane

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane

De Smet has published his BHR results from 1998 to 2002. They are as follows:

http://www.hip-clinic.com/assets/downloads/BHRlagomaggiore.pdf

McMinn's results are tabulated within the NICE document and are on-going.

Perhaps the OS you referred to should look at these. There are 25000+ BHR

patients worldwide - I hear very few complaining - quite the contrary in fact.

Looking forward to seeing the USA results on resurfacing.

Rog

Surgeon tried to dissuade me from surface hip

replacement

Hi everyone.

Am all set to have right hip surface replacement with Dr. Wm. Kennedy in

Sarasota, Florida.

He did my left about two years ago and am happy with result.

Now, a very prominent orthopedic surgeon told me results are skewed form

McMiin and from DeSmet and these replacements do not last long and i will be

in

trouble down the road...ions being cast off into blood stream...and need new

replacement sooner.

He did say that Dr. Kennedy is a gifted surgeon.

AAArrrgggh..any comments?

Diane