Re: In need of help from the community

March 3, 2004

Hi

> feel strongly that a BHR hip resurfacing is by far the best option

> for me, however, there is not a surgeon who can to do the surgery in

> Canada. It isn't approved here yet(although they might still be

> doing clinical trials)

Dr.Kim in Ottawa, Drs. Masri, Greidanus, Duncan, and Garbuz in

Vancouver, Dr. Smit in White Rock, and some surgeons in Montreal,

Calgary, and Edmonton have all done this surgery. I know for sure that

the Vancouver surgeons are doing Durom resurfacings this month, and I

didn't hear that it was just clinical trials. OHIP would probably pay

to get your hip done in Canada, if you can find a surgeon to take you.

I was not yet on crutches, just limping, so I gave up on the

two-year waiting list here and had my BHR in England. So far as I have

heard, BC MSP will not pay a cent because it wasn't life-threatening

and it's available here. Never mind the fact that in two years my bone

density would have declined so much that I'd have to have had a THR

instead of a BHR, they don't care...

See if your doctor can pull some strings with another Canadian

surgeon. Even if you have to pay a private fee ($500?) for the first

consultation, it would be worth it to have the surgery done here. You

will still have to pay about $4000 for the appliance (I guess because

it's experimental, and costs more than a THR insert) and for some

drugs/injections, though.

Hope that helps,

n

rBHR Oct.17/03 McMinn

March 3, 2004

-

There is a surgeon in Toronto who does resurfacing. His name is

Schemtisch (almost certainly misspelled) and he's at St. 's. I

believe he's the chief of orthopaedic surgery. A friend of mine had a

THR from him last year and thought he was great. She had gone to him

to inquire about her candidacy for a resurf. She wasn't eligible but

she liked him so much she chose him for the THR anyway. Hope this

helps.

> I am a 32 year old Canadian male with severe degenerative

> osteoarthrittis of the right hip. I had a hip debridement

> approximately 3 1/2 years ago and have been told by two Canadian

> orthopedic surgeons that I now require further surgery. They both

> feel strongly that a BHR hip resurfacing is by far the best option

> for me, however, there is not a surgeon who can to do the surgery in

> Canada. It isn't approved here yet(although they might still be

> doing clinical trials) I've filed for an Out-Of-Country Application

> in hopes that Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) would fund some

> if not all of the cost of my surgery with Dr. De Smet (who seems to

> be very nice, we have emailed back and forth and he has been very

> helpful). To make a long story short, my first request was deined

> based on lack of information. My doctor and I have been granted an

> appeal and I am trying desperately to gather information (studies on

> BHR vs THR... etc) on why BHR is the better option than a THR for

> some one of my age (I'm also trying to give OHIP very little holes

> to weasel out of paying for a surgery that if it was perfromed here

> they would cover). I've viewed and taken most of the info off your

> Data base and links (thanks.. it is really helpfull.. good job). My

> doctor says that the argument what may be posed from OHIP is there

> aren't any " Long Term Studies " (long term here is based on a period

> of ten years or more). Doing research myself, I've learned quite a

> bit and knowing what I know now.. don't expect to find any " long

> Term Studies " *wink*

> I'm in desperate need of any help that anyone out there can give me.

March 4, 2004

I know of a few bits of statistical data. I would suggest however you

contact MMT, the makers of the BHR for any help they can give you.

http://www.midmedtec.co.uk

Rog

In need of help from the community