Tunbridge Wells resident and keen skier, Ric, went into Maidstone Hospital one morning and just six hours later walked out again with a new hip.
He was the first same day total hip replacement conducted by the Orthopaedic Team at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) who used a relatively new technique of minimally invasive surgery.
Surgeons at MTW who conducted the operation, said the approach is ‘a modification of the traditional posterior approach’ where the arthritic hip is removed without disturbing muscles and tendons around it.
The procedure does not involve cutting any muscle, as is the case in the traditional hip operations, and as a result, the patient has less bleeding and pain.
MTW has the only dedicated orthopaedic unit in the whole of Kent and Sussex, and over the last couple of months the team has now performed five of these same day hip replacements.
“You are all very special people working for a world class organisation. In my heart is both gratitude and love.”
Mr Syed Ahmed, Trauma and Orthopaedics consultant at MTW, said: “There are great benefits of using this technique for both our patients and our orthopaedic service.
“It enables the patient to make a much quicker recovery with less pain and discomfort. Patients appreciate being back on their feet on the same day and being able to sleep in their own bed at night.
“I would like to thank all the teams involved, as it would not be possible for us to provide this service without the hard work and dedication of our anaesthetists (Dr Howells and Dr Fai) theatre staff, orthopaedic waiting list staff and ward staff including Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Pharmacists at the Maidstone Orthopaedic Unit.
“Careful patient selection and education, adequate perioperative considerations, and appropriate postoperative pathways will enable us to carry out many more successful day-case hip replacements.”
Recipient of the first of the new hip, known only as ‘Ric’, who is from Tunbridge Wells, added: “My kindest thanks to Mr Ahmed and the whole team in the orthopaedic unit.
“You are all very special people working for a world class organisation. In my heart is both gratitude and love.”
He continued: “These procedures are transformative as the latest operative techniques allow rapid patient turnaround with reduced pain and much faster recovery.
“Having had one hip replaced five years previously I was aware of the procedure and the need for my involvement in being physically fit before and after the operation. “I was back on my bike and walking for an hour unaided within three weeks and believe this should be possible for any senior citizen. I’m now looking forward to next year’s ski season!”
