For local resident Paul Frey of Perkiomenville, being 50 years old and living with arthritis of the hip was a real pain. As an active person, it was becoming increasingly frustrating for him to perform daily activities that many of us take for granted.

Paul, like millions of individuals, experienced chronic hip pain as a result of osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disorder that occurs when cartilage in the joints wears down over time. Unfortunately, cortisone injections and painkillers provided only temporary relief of his pain.

An Alternative to Hip Replacement
Paul was not an ideal candidate for hip replacement surgery because of his relatively young age and active lifestyle. Doctors were concerned that Paul would basically “wear out” the replacement implant much sooner than someone less active. After exploring what he thought were all his options, Paul conceded that he would have to live with the constant pain, despite its interference with his personal and professional life.

Fortunately, there was still another option available to Paul. He met with Nikos Pavlides, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC) and discussed an innovative procedure called hip resurfacing, a new bone-saving alternative to hip replacement.

A New Bone-Saving Procedure
Hip resurfacing offers a new treatment option for younger, active patients with debilitating hip pain. Hip resurfacing is a technologically advanced surgical procedure that resurfaces rather than replaces the end of the femur (thighbone), thereby saving the natural bone.

“This is a minimally invasive procedure that removes a very small amount of arthritic bone in the hip joint and covers it with a new smooth surface,” explains Dr. Pavlides. “Unlike hip replacement, which removes the hip and completely replaces it, resurfacing allows patients to keep their own hip.”

This enables patients (after their initial recovery period) to participate in more strenuous physical activity. Hip resurfacing patients also tend to have lower dislocation rates and potentially have a longer-lasting implant than some traditional total hip replacement patients.

After learning of the many advantages of hip resurfacing, Paul felt that the procedure was indeed the best option for him and scheduled the surgery with Dr. Pavlides. Subsequently, Dr. Pavlides became one of the first orthopedic surgeons in the United States to perform this new FDA-approved hip surgery.

The Result: Relief from Pain
Paul was pleased with the result. His surgery went extremely smoothly: He was up and walking the day after surgery and was back home the day after that. He is now following up with a rehabilitation program that he participates in at home.

“I did not have any pain after surgery,” says Paul. “I felt great and received excellent care by all the staff at Pottstown, but the biggest thank you goes to Dr. Pavlides for being such an excellent surgeon and really caring about his patients.” For more information on PMMC’s Center for Bone & Joint Health, visit www.pottstownmemorial.com.

Dr. Nikos Pavlides explains to patient Paul Frey the benefits of hip resurfacing.