Patient Stories
Sutter Orthopaedic Institute
Brian – New Hip Joints Give Life Back to 38–Year–Old Father
For 38–year–old Brian, life revolves around providing for and enjoying his wife and three young children. As a representative selling weather computer systems to television stations across the Western U.S., Brian is on the road three out of every four weeks. During the times heâs home, he spends as much time as he can with his kids and gives his wife a much–needed hand.
When he developed a serious case of gout on a business trip to Hawaii, it was an uncomfortable interruption, but the cortisone shots he received helped ease the inflammation. Unfortunately, the shots had a more serious side effect. Apparently they reduced circulation to the top of his leg bones, causing rapid degeneration of his hips within a year.
"The pain was so intense I had to travel with a cane and couldnât even lift my own bags," said Brian. "I had to stay incredibly focused just to get my bags to the car."
Brian traveled from his home in Utah to see the one person he was certain would discover the cause: his father, an orthopedic surgeon in Grass Valley, California. Brianâs dad diagnosed the problem and told Brian that any heavy lifting from now on was off–limits–including his kids. Then his father strongly suggested he see William Bargar M.D., a Sutter orthopedic surgeon and joint replacement specialist. "And when your father suggests you see someone, you'd better go see him," said Brian.
Dr. Bargar is a pioneer in the field of orthopedic surgery who made history by performing the first robot–assisted hip replacement in 1992 using a system he helped develop. A similar type of computer–assisted technology was used during Brianâs two hip replacement surgeries. The first surgery took place before Thanksgiving in 2006, followed by the second just before Christmas. By mid January he was back on the road.
"I used a cane on that first trip, but I felt so good, I had to remind myself that I had prosthetic hips so that I didnât over do it." said Brian, adding "I was 37 when I had my surgeries. For someone like me, with decades of active live ahead of him, it was critical to choose the right surgeon. I've had no issues since my surgeries, not one, and it feels great to get back to a quality of life again."
Brian has no hesitation saying that the best reward is being able to hold his 3– and 5–year–old children, as well as his newest child, a 9–month-old baby born after he received his new hip joints. "There is nothing, nothing better than being able to hold my kids again."