Jon, CONSERVE^® Total Hip with BFH^® Technology via the PATH^® Technique Recipient

Jon, a 59 year-old resident of Los Angeles, has been an athlete for virtually his entire life. After excelling at football in high school, he quickly transitioned to grueling high-impact endeavors such as marathons, biathlons and triathlons. Later in life, he fell in love with mountain biking and an extreme high-velocity sport called water ski racing, where participants can travel at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. Jon quickly became well known within the racing circle and holds several local records.

However in 2004, Jon's athletic career took a perilous turn when, after a particularly intense water ski race, he began to experience pain in his back. Thinking it was minor, Jon pushed through the pain but it quickly spread to his front leg, groin and right hip. Within a matter of weeks, he developed a noticeable limp and had to give up most of his extreme athletic hobbies. Although he continued to mountain bike, he often rode in pain, unwilling to abandon all of his outdoor pursuits.

For three years, Jon lived in misery while hoping against hope that he could one day reclaim his old life. Then, disaster struck. In June 2007, he was involved in a near fatal accident when a fuel leak blew up the ski race boat he was in, leaving him with 3rd degree burns on 22 percent of his body and requiring 30 days of rehabilitation in a burn center. Shortly after recovering, and unwilling to live the next 30 years in pain, Jon decided that it was time to seek medical help.

Acting on a suggestion from a friend, Jon consulted with Dr. Brad Penenberg at the Arthritis & Joint Reconstruction Institute of Los Angeles. Dr. Penenberg determined that most of Jon's pain was caused by a damaged right hip and recommended a full replacement. In June 2008, Jon was fitted with the CONSERVE® Total Hip with BFH® Technology from Wright Medical. Dr. Penenberg employed a novel tissue-sparing surgical technique called PATH®, also pioneered by Wright, which allowed him to replace the hip through a small incision, unlike the large amount of cutting necessary with a traditional hip replacement. Traditionally, the femoral head of total hip implants are made smaller to size than a normal femoral head. However, Jon's implant would enable him to experience the feeling of a normal hip.

The results have been impressive. The day following Jon's surgery, he walked out of the hospital with a cane; two days later, he was walking without assistance; and three days later, he was back to work. After a month of rehabilitation, Jon was virtually pain-free and plotting his return to the water. Little did he suspect just how grand a return he would make.

In March 2009, Jon strapped himself onto a water ski for the first time in nearly five years. Although he didn't race that day, being able to get on the water stoked his competitive fires and gave him the confidence he needed.

Today, Jon is back on skis, both on water and on the slopes, mountain biking and a gym rat.

Wright's CONSERVE® BFH® Hip is designed to mimic the natural anatomy and motion of the hip. It features a larger femoral ball and socket design that more closely matches the sizing of a natural femoral head, resulting in greater range of motion, which can reduce the incidence of dislocation. In addition, the implant's metal-on-metal bearing surface is designed to offer the benefits of added durability and reduced wear compared to alternative treatment options. Furthermore, the larger implant enables a greater range of motion without impingement of the hip, allowing most patients to enjoy a wide range of activities after their surgery. This can make a big difference to those trying to return to a more normal, active lifestyle.

Wright's PATH® Technique offers a smaller incision (2.5-3.5 inches as compared to 8-10 inches required for traditional hip replacement); however, the PATH® Technique is truly minimally-invasive because it is tissue-preserving; preserving all the short external rotators and muscles that allow the hip to function.

Because of this, the PATH® Technique offers patients the potential for decreased recovery time since there is, typically: reduced pain, reduced functional tissue damage, and reduced blood loss associated with this technique. This translates to patients who are able to walk, in many cases completely unassisted, within just days of surgery, as opposed to weeks to months of recovery time associated with traditional hip replacement techniques.

These results are specific to this individual only. Individual results and activity levels after surgery vary and depend on many factors including age, weight and prior activity level. There are risks and recovery times associated with surgery and there are certain individuals who should not undergo surgery.

Only a physician can tell you if this product and associated procedure are right for you and your unique circumstances. Please consult with a physician for complete information regarding benefits, risks and possible outcomes.