I am 60 and have always been very active until I developed arthritis
in my hips. I want to go back to being very active again. I was about
to have two hip replacements, about 5 weeks apart but felt
uncomfortable about the lack of research I had done on the subject.
     I cancelled the surgery and started to do some research. I have
ruled out Hip Resurfacing as not the most permanent procedure. 

  I discovered a website called "www.JimmysNewHip.com" and became very
interested in the two components of Jimmy Connors hip replacement -
the Wright?s CONSERVE® Total Hip with BFH® Technology, using the PATH
procedure which is minimally invasive. Supposedly, the larger diameter
of the femur head reduces the likelihood of dislocation and the modular
design facilitates the minimally invasive surgery.
     
    The procedure was invented by Dr. Brad Penenberg. I found the
names of a few doctors who do this procedure using PATH and the Wright
Technology. I chose cities that would not be too difficult for me to
go to and stay for a few days. They are:
  Dr. Richard Rosa in Livingston, NJ who uses St Barnabas Medical Center
(Essex County, NJ)
  Dr. James Muffey, Denver, Colorado area
  Dr. Robert Kruse, Denver, Colorado area 
 The hospitals that they use in the Denver area are: Porter Memorial
and Swedish Medical Center.

  My request is for someone to research:
      a) are there any doctors who are very experienced in this
particular procedure and technology in the Syracuse or Rochester NY
areas who have been personally trained by Dr. Penenberg? If so, what
hospital do they use?
      
     b) the reputation and any specific positive or negative
experiences of those four doctors (including Dr. Penenberg who is
located in Los Angeles, CA area) and those three hospitals I have
already mentioned (and any others you may find in the Syracuse /
Rochester area). Particularly, an evaluation of which hospital ranks
highest in orthopedic procedures and lowest in incidents of infection
etc.
  
     c) The only company's technology I have researched is Wright, which I
mentioned above. I would like to have someone research what other
CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY is available for hip replacement - especially
suitable for a younger, active person.
 
   The bottom line is that I am mainly interested in finding out what
technology is out there that is competing with the Wright?s CONSERVE®
Total Hip with BFH® Technology, and also the PATH procedure and why
each feels it is the best.

  Then I would like any supportive or historical data or statistics
and testimonies on the ongoing successful or unsuccessful results.
(Eg. Dr Penenberg says in his interview that there have been zero
incidents of dislocation in the last 500 procedures.)

   One thing in particular that has come to my attention is that, when
using a larger femur head, the danger of dislocation is greatly
reduced but the danger of the socket loosening over time due to the
torque from the larger head is increased. I would like that concern
addressed because I am very interested in the BFH (Big Femur Head)
technology.

Another concern is that the Wright BFH is metal on metal so I am
wondering if there is the danger potential release of metals into the
blood stream. Also,
what fixation method is used?

   I appreciate your help in this urgent issue.

  Thanks, Judy

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Clarification of Question by judy5555-ga on 18 Oct 2006 20:14 PDT

Could someone please tell me why I am not getting any responses or
comments or even requests for clarification on my question? I am very
eager to get the answer to these questions.
 If the question needs to be broken down, could you please give me
some suggestions on how to break it down? I am very new to posting
questions and need some direction.
 I read about how to word the question very specifically and I thought
I was very specific.
  Help!

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 18 Oct 2006 20:30 PDT

Judy,

Quite frankly, I suspect that the reason you haven't received an
answer is that your question is underpriced for the complexity
involved. Multi-part questions like this one often take four hours of
work (sometimes longer), and undertaking this much research in order
to earn $18.25 (the Researcher's share of your fee) is a daunting
task. You may get much better results if you break this into several
separate questions.

Medicalcountries.org has lists of qualified doctors, hospitals, and
prices compared in various countries. Sometime the technology,
infection rate and medical mistake rate is better in India, Thailand
or the U.S. That depends on the hospital, doctor, and the time you
choose.  You seem very thorough in your research but have you checked
the factors in different countries. Some countries have equal or
better quality, and technology at a tenth the cost.