Patient Stories

Robyn Benincasa, adventure racer and founder of Project Athena, is really putting her new hip to the test. Her left hip was resurfaced by Dr. Su in 2009, and she resumed her duties as a firefighter shortly thereafter.

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Mike Sillinger, former assistant captain of the NY Islanders professional hockey team, underwent hip resurfacing surgery by Dr. Su.

Mr. Sillinger has played in over 1000 NHL games for 12 different teams over 17 seasons! Shortly after additional surgery was required on his opposite hip, Mr. Sillinger decided to retire after an illustrious career.

Dr. Robert Arnot, star of the hit TV show, Dr. Danger, posts about his experience having double hip resurfacing surgery

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Todd, LBHR December 13, 2007

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John Bria, RBHR January 9, 2007

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Nancy Kupferschmidt, Allergic to Bone Cement, R Biomet Cementless July 2007

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Bradley Poster, Right hip resurfacing 2006

It was 7 months as of the 15th of June. (that I had my hip resurfacing with Dr. Su) I celebrated by doing the Mt Washington running race on Saturday the 16th. just a 7.6 mile jaunt up Mt Washington in New Hampshire with a 4650 ft ascent. Finished in 1:43:32 Good for 243 pl out of 900+ other crazies doing this. It was 13 minutes slower than my time in 1999 but I guess the mountain has gotten steeper in the last 8 years.

I don't consider myself in the same categories as Corey or Floyd, so all of you out there wondering if there is a running life for mere mortals after getting your hip resurfaced I say "get out there and run".

For my 1 year anniversary I am doing the NYC marathon next year. I might hang out with Jack Lalanne and pull a boat across the San Francisco bay with my teeth.

It feels good when the pain is gone. Best wishes to all who have had this and those doing it in the future.

A New Surgery Allows a Man to Honor His Father-in-Law

Dr. Scott Clark
The Sky's the Limit After Hip Resurfacing

Arizona resident Dr. Scott Clark loves to be outside. Whether it's climbing the world's highest peaks in the Himalayas, rock climbing in his home state, or scuba diving in foreign seas, he's in his element. So when his degenerative hip pain began to prevent him from lacing his boots before his climb, or even putting on his fins before a dive without his wife's help, he faced the facts. His hip, which had been deteriorating for nearly a decade, would require surgery.

As an anesthesiologist, Dr. Clark knew how to seek the highest level of expertise and patient care for his procedure. He wanted to maintain his activity level while preserving as much of his joint as possible - after all, at 45, he was still young - and after the procedure was done, he wanted to recover as quickly as he could. With this criteria in mind, his search led him to Edwin P. Su, MD, one of the leading hip resurfacing surgeons in the country, who happens to practice at the top orthopedic hospital in the country: Hospital for Special Surgery.

"I remember that one of his concerns was being well enough in his recovery to go on a scuba diving trip one month after surgery," says Dr. Su. "Having surgery was clearly a quality of life issue for him, and his candidacy for the hip resurfacing procedure really would allow him to maximize his potential."

In the weeks and months before and after his surgery, says Dr. Clark, Dr. Su has been there for him whenever he's had a question or concern. "He's been very communicative, which can be rare in our day of medicine," he says. "I've experienced a variety of hospital settings. I had high expectations, and HSS truly surpassed them."

After the procedure, he recovered extremely quickly, experienced no pain as soon as the surgery was finished, and was walking with help from a walker on the same day of surgery. He quickly advanced through all the physical therapy goals, and soon resumed his activities.

On a recent scuba diving excursion to Turks and Caicos, Dr. Clark fit in several days of 7-8 mile walks on his newly resurfaced hip. "My recovery has been fantastic," he says. "I am now three months postoperative, and I feel as strong and as young as 10 years ago!"

Having trained recently on a 9-mile, 3000 ft. climb in Tucson, he plans to return to high altitude climbing as soon as possible. When he does, he also intends to send us photos of himself hoisting the HSS banner on the world's highest peaks.

Now that he has his life back, the sky's truly the limit.

Dr. Bob Arnot

"After years of marathons, bike races, ski competitions, marathon cross ski races, big wall ice climbing, big wave surfing and even accumulating a little shrapnel in a handful of wars, both of my hips were completely shot. The x-rays showed pure bone on bone with enormous osteophytes. One prominent surgeon said, you have no choice. Your hips are too far gone you'll have to have THR. I thought for a moment. Boy if I'm confused as a physician and sports medicine expert, what chance on earth does the average patient have of making the right decision? One good answer is, because they are both excellent choices. Still there had to be a right decision.

I began reading the entire world literature. I called doctors in France, England, Belgium, Germany. The more I read, the less I seemed to know. I reached out to Mr. Ronan Treacy, co inventor of the Birmingham hip and even the legendary Roger Banister's son. Both were incredibly thoughtful and helpful. Both said they'd have HR themselves.

With the decision made, now I needed a surgeon. I offered to fly to Birmingham, England to have one of the inventors do the procedure. Graciously, they said, no need. You'll find a Dr. Edwin Su at the Hospital for Special Surgery in NY. He had their highest recommendation and that of every key player I could reach. HSS is considered number one in the US in Orthopedics. Their chief, Tom Sculco weighed in. "Ed is one of our very best." Wow. This was the surgeon my great friend and physiatrist VJ Vad had recommended six months before. I called Dr Su's office on a Friday morning. After 15 minutes of scrambling, his incredibly affective assistant Laura Janice had an OR date set for the following Thursday. I had spent the weekend in Aspen boosting my hemotacrit up to 48 so I wouldn't need a transfusion. On Monday I had a complete cardiac workup, x-rays and a visit with Dr. Su. He demonstrated that I had 30 degree hip contractures on both sides. Any questions he said? A Month before I would pummeled him with dozens. I just turned to him and said. "You're the best there is. I just want a near perfect biomechanical result. You're a great surgeon and I trust you. " The die was cast.

I skied right through my last day before surgery, flew to Washington for a meeting on a young cancer victim in Iraq we were efforting treatment for and arrived in NYC at 1 AM on the day of surgery. I worked out for two hours at the gym, then reported to the hospital. At 1:30 PM Dr, Su appeared. "I'm psyched," I said. "So am I'" said Dr. Su.

I was wheeled down a long corridor that looked more like a star wars bionics laboratory than OR. Less than four hours later I was in recovery, on my computer and making a conference call. The following day I walked to the nurses station and back with crutches. Dr. Su came to visit each morning with a ready smile and encouraging manner. His bedside manner got a solid A plus as did the remarkable team at HSS. I was sad to leave!

By day ten, I had walked a mile on crutches, by day twelve, three miles. Now that I'm two weeks out I'm beginning to let myself dream of all things I'll be able to do again that I've put on hold for so long.a much better pop for surfing, more precise racing turns in skiing, running, rock climbing, even the Ironman. I wondered why I had waited so long. The answer was simple - Most orthopods say.you'll know when you're ready. The truth is I had been ready for years. While Americans emphasize pain as the main reason for surgery, I have a very high threshold, did tons of yoga and never had terrible pain. The British emphasize functional criterion. I had a terrible limp, striking waddling gait abnormalities, an abductor lurch and large hip contractures. As my fourteen year old son said before surgery, "Dad, you look old, really old." If I had one piece of advice it would be, get a great functional exam and use that to decide rather than pain alone. Curiously, all my pain was in my knees. My hips had thrown my biomechanics off so badly, that I was at risk of slowly destroying my knees.

Well. I think I've turned back the clock, gained 1.5 inches of height, regained my proper posture and discovered a miracle that Pat has been a champion of for so long.

Audrey

Dancer Questionnaire
Date of Surgeries: 9/2006, 5/2007, 12/2007
Surgeons: Dr. James Purtill (Rothman Institute in Philly), Dr. Marc Philippon (Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail CO), Dr. Su (HSS in NYC)

(NR notes) Audrey wrote: My desire is to help someone else from going through what I did.

Prior to surgery

When did you first notice symptoms and what were they?

In March of 2006, in the course of doing straddle splits, I felt a warm "bleeding" sensation in hips. I limped upon standing up.

What was your medical diagnosis (traumatic osteoarthritis, congenital hip problem, avascular necrosis, etc)?

The first four medical diagnosis by surgeons in Washington DC diagnosed the problem as everything from hamstring pulls or severe osteoarthritis. In September of 2006 the torn labrum was discovered by Dr. Parvisi at the Rothman Institute.

What forms of treatment did you seek before considering surgery (chiropractic, acupuncture, medications, bodywork, physical therapy, herbs, etc)?

I followed the courses of rehab set out by the Washington doctors. In addition, I received energy and bodywork. I rarely use over the counter or prescribed meds, but used some motrin for inflammation.

How did you change your work habits, lifestyle to accommodate the hip problem?

Within 3 months I could not walk a block. My workouts were cut in half and I had to give up dance..

How long an interval was it from the onset of hip problems until surgery?

It was 6 months before I underwent arthroscopic surgery with Purtill.

What factors, physical, emotional, financial, etc. influenced your final decision to have surgery?

I readily considered a surgical solution. Intuitively I knew something was not self-correcting. I was mis-diagnosed for the most part. At that time a THR seemed to be a radical solution for a torn labrum. It seemed illogical that I could be doing straddle splits in second position with my stomach on the floor one day and need THR the next.

Were there other dancers you spoke with that helped you?

Though I had danced off and on for over 40 years, I had never heard of a torn labrum. At that time I was not aware of any professionals in my circle with hip issues. I was put in contact with a local ballet dancer whom I did not know by name. She had THR 5 years previous. It turned out (excuse pun) that we were in a stretch class together and I never knew she had surgery. She did splits like the rest of us at about 50 years of age. She gave me hope in case I needed to embrace THR as a solution. She gave me the name of her surgeon.

Surgery

What influenced your choice of surgeon?

In most cases I went to surgeons whom my GP recommended. I finally found Dr. Su via google, and patient recommendations there. I also heard his name from another surgeon as one of the most experienced in resurfacing. I knew I had the right surgeon when he provided hi fidelity profiles/references for me...a dancer with bi-lateral hip issues. All other surgeons did not provide references and/or felt dancers were no different from other active people. To me, these are red flags: if they feel dancers are not in a special needs category and/or they hide behind HIPAA to refrain from providing references.

How long were you in the hospital?

Torn Labrum Surgery-1 day; hip reconstruction surgery with micro-fractures, arthroplasty, synovectomy, and chondroplasty and reconstruction of labrum from IT band-out-patient; hip resurfacing-2 days.

What kind of prosthesis did you get (e.g., ceramic ball/ceramic liner? poly liner? highly-crossed linked poly liner? all metal?)?

I left it up to Dr. Su. He selected BHR.

Did you have any complications in the hospital?

Nope.

Anything else to say about your in-patient experience?

HSS is the best. Thomas Jefferson in Philly was good as well. (They tried to make up for the poor surgical outcome.) Vail Valley...well, I would not return there for surgery.

Post-op

Did you have any complications, especially unexpected difficulties, after you got home?

In the first two surgeries there were nothing but complications during recovery. After the first surgery I had more pain than prior to surgery. The hip dislocated almost every night as I turned in bed. My joint was incredibly unstable. I limped with pain...walking was not an option most days. I went to Johns Hopkins and had MRIs, contrast MRIs and arthograms. These were sent to Dr. Philippon since the surgeon at Johns Hopkins said all he could offer was THR, but Dr. Philippon might be able to do something other than THR. He said it was a shame to do a THR with only small areas of cartilage loss. Dr. Philippon said he could fix the hip. I had to wait months to get a surgical date. The hip deteriorated weekly. After surgery in Colorado I had stay in a hotel for 8 days before I could fly home. I was on oxygen, had foot pumps, ice pumps, etc. I had to lie in a CBM machine for 6 weeks 5- 8 hours a day. I could not sit for more than an hour. I had a PT protocol which took almost 5 hours a day. The bruising and swelling was excessive. Even my face was swollen. My hip was 50% bigger in size and black from hip to knee. I was mostly on crutches from May until December. In August, on a follow-up visit I was given 3 shots into my hip by Dr. Karle. I immediately lost feeling in my leg. It was effectively half paralyzed for 3-4 days. I returned to Colorado after reporting no improvement to work with Dr. Philippon's PT. He could not advance me off crutches. An EMG was done after I returned home and continued to deteriorate. Nerve damage was concluded. I was not certain I would ever be able to walk again with a normal gait. After ~1.5 years from the time of injury, the left leg began to fail. A bi-lateral solution was essential.

Enter Dr. Su and his team and HSS. He offered to do a (bilateral) hip resurfacing. He answered all my questions. His assistant put me on a waitlist which allowed me to receive surgery (1st hip) within weeks of my 1st visit (left HSS on Christmas Eve). With my surgical history, and level of anxiety, I think many surgeons would have pushed me off. One surgeon actually told me he was afraid I might affect his outcomes record! I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Su. He had the courage and compassion and expertise I sorely needed but could not even hope to find. I am only 3 weeks+ post op, but I feel like I see the light at the end of the tunnel. And HSS!!! Unbelievable care! I felt like a celebrity! Everyone loved their job and was competent at what they did, Even the cleaning staff and food service staff would routinely ask if there was anything I needed and if I was comfortable! I did not even have to ask for a blanket...they would notice I was cold and bring a heated one! Regardless of blood loss, I was ready to leave in 2 days! And was off pain killers within 5 days post op. I feel on top of the world! The pain is almost all gone. The debility is almost all gone!

What steps did you take toward recovery? (Physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, medications, bodywork, herbs, etc.)

I am an energy worker so I sought energy and bodywork. I also had a great team of PTs who were dancers or athletes. They were creative and supportive. It was a LONG haul.

How long did it take you to really feel recovered (6 months, one year, two years?)?

My PT says my right leg had normal ROM. I feel it is getting stronger. The scar is continuing to heal (I have a bevy of surgical scars on the leg, but Dr. Su's is one of the prettiest J

Anything or any practitioners that you would highly recommend?

A torn labrum should not result in bi-lateral hip resurfacing. Listen to your body regardless of what the surgeon says. If it does not behave like a hamstring pull, it probably is not. Seek immediate care and be persistent. In my case it felt like a burning pain in the groin about the size of a quarter. There was an immediate locking of the joint with loss of 50% of turnout. I wish I did not have an arthroscopic procedure to correct the labral tear. The degree of injury was masked in numerous MRIs. They are limited in what they can do with traction and two tiny holes. In my case, it proved to be disastrous. The labrum fell in the joint...making it difficult to access it. Insist on references who are dancers...not soccer players...not football players. I would highly recommend Dr. Su. I cannot say enough good things about him. I literally thank God for him.

He provided me with the name of a professional dancer with bilateral surgery. She "held my hand" throughout the pre-op, surgery, and post-op though she did not even know me. She was able to set my mind at ease and set my expectations. So far, she was right about everything.

Moving again

Did you return to dancing professionally?

Teaching perhaps. Performing doubtful. I had quit professional dancing in 1997. I had continued to train and take classes up until the injury. I had just begun training for a dance competition/performance when the injury happened. That was almost 2 years ago. I am nearing 50...so a professional competitive career is doubtful...and back flips and splits (part of the 2006 routine) are probably out. However, I have many people waiting for dance lessons as soon as I am cleared to teach...so a clear "maybe" to that question.

About dance class: Do you take dance classes?

Not yet. I will as soon as cleared.

How much facility do you have?

I have normal ROM at 3 weeks post op. I was 97% percentile prior to injury. I expect to reach 90%.

All post-THR patients are advised to limit impact on the joint and to avoid overcrossing the legs. Given that, do you actually modify your dance class? E.g., are there parts of the class that you skip (petite allegro, grand allegro?)? Do you use fifth position? Etc.

I do ballroom, so turnout is not required. I can bring my knees to my chest, cross the legs in both directions. My rotators are weak after 2 years off, so I have modified tendu, degage, fondue to the side...all are done in the pool at present within PT restrictions.

Do you do other physical exercise (e.g., Yoga, Pilates, biking, swimming, etc.)? If so do you modify what you do in these activities?

I swim, bike, bellydance, weight train (free weights) and do stretch conditioning. I expect to resume without restrictions in 6 months...I will check back in and let you know any limitations.

Other

How has the surgery impacted you professionally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially? Is your life different now? Did you have any outcome, good or bad, that was different from what you expected? Any other thoughts to share?

The second surgery did not allow me to return to work for over 2 months and I lost my job. I also lost my strength, agility, flexibility, speed, etc. I lost my body and I lost me. My body no longer looked familiar. At one time I could make it do anything. Then, almost nothing. I had to rethink how to interpret pain and dysfunction. I learned to respect my inner voice and jump off the examination table if it said "Run!" Whenever I ignored my inner voice to defer to social decorum or professional advice I suffered. When I discounted the inner voice as anxiety, I was wrong to do so. Spiritually, I am trying to keep an open mind as to what this means. After waiting 10 years to return to performance, it may never be. All I know is that I am grateful to have had a body that could do anything asked of it for almost 30 years. I have come to understand this as a wonderful gift. It is more than enough. My body has always been better to me than I to it. I am enhancing my shiatsu and ergonomics certifications by studying the anatomy and physiology of the hips in relation to meridians and energy balancing. I am also studying structural integration and looking for answers as to how to maintain or restore hip flexibility and health. I have tried muscle activation therapy and found it promising as well. I have taken a nutrition course and plan to pursue more certification in this area. In short, a career change is in the offing.