Just one month after having her left hip replaced, Elaine Konkel learned that now her right hip needed a total replacement. And she was not happy. Elaine’s first hip replacement, performed by another Chicago surgeon in October 2009, left her with a nine inch scar and the procedure required a four-day hospital stay. After that, she was moved to a rehabilitation center where she stayed for six and a half weeks. Seven weeks after surgery she was able to walk with assistance from a cane.
Scheduling was another problem. Elaine’s surgeon recommended that she have her right hip replaced in November 2009. However, the earliest date he could do the surgery was March 2010, a full fourth months later. While she waited, Elaine continued rehabilitation three times each week to regain strength in her left hip.
Fortunately for Elaine, during one of her rehabilitation visits, a physical therapist gave her a brochure about a seminar that Dr. Steven Louis of Hinsdale Orthopaedics was conducting on the direct anterior approach for total hip replacement. Elaine became certain that she needed an appointment with Dr. Louis and after her first visit to him in February 2010, he was able to schedule surgery for later in the month.
“The surgery went very well,” Elaine explains. “I had no drainage or weeping from the small incision and Tylenol took care of the little pain I had. Ten days after my surgery, I was walking without a cane or walker and getting stronger daily.”
The anterior approach left Elaine with a three-inch scar on her right hip, compared to the nine-inch scar she has on her left hip. She also was able to walk without a cane just two weeks after the surgery, while her first operation
required seven weeks before she could walk with a cane.
“Everyone tells me how amazed to see how well I recovered in such a short time and how well I am walking,” Elaine explains. “I can even turn on my right side in bed with very little or no discomfort.”
What’s more, Elaine has noticed a general weakness in her left hip and leg.
“I do not find this with my right leg,” she says. “In fact, the right side has greatly improved since the second surgery. Besides no hip precautions after surgery, the right hip and leg has become stronger and able to accomplish exercises it could not do several months ago before seeing Dr. Louis.”
Six months after her surgery with Dr. Louis, Elaine is thrilled with the results.
“I was ok with my first surgery, but I am very pleased with my second surgery on the right side with a smaller incision, shorter healing time, and ability to walk without a cane or walker twelve days after surgery.”
For more information on Dr. Steven Louis or anterior approach hip replacement surgery, call Hinsdale Orthopaedics: 630-323-6116.
Free Informational Seminar:
Dr. Steven Louis of Hinsdale Orthopaedics is conducting a free, informational seminar on this technique. The seminar will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, January 25, in the Red and Black Oak Rooms at Good Samaritan Hospital, 3815 Highland Avenue in Downers Grove. To register, please call 1.800.323.8622 and use event code 4G78. This event is free and open to the public.
