Having to go back in for hip revision

Bones, joints and muscles
1

i had a THR last September at the age of 43 following years of football wear & tear. I was still cycling to work and going to the gym everyday up until the day before my hip replacement surgery at Homerton Hospital, my operated leg came out over an inch longer after the surgery, when I complained to the surgeon he wasn't interested and told me to come back in 6 weeks. One week later it dislocated on me schist sat still watching TV, I had a 3 hour wait for an ambulance and never felt pain like it, it was put back in its socket but further scans showed it had been fitted incorrectly, I was told this in November but have had to wait until a revision surgery date of 29.04.15, I've been on crutches ever since the initial op and been more depressed than you could ever imagine. Just when I was starting to see the light at the end if the tunnel with 2 weeks to go for revision, the hip has dislodged somehow again and I'm now unable to walk more than a few steps and when I do it sounds like I'm carrying a bag of tools and a rubber duck, the joint squeakes and grinds. I've got four children, two of them are under the age of four, you can imagine how hard this has been. The responsible hospital couldn't give a **** and have provided no aftercare or even a phone call to see how I am, it's disgusting!

2

Hello Cameron this is awful, I feel so sorry for you and your family especially as you could walk etc before op.

Have you out your complaint in writing ?

I certainly would be.

Are you having the revision at different hospital and different surgeon ?

Where about is homerton ?

3

Hi Cameron

So sorry to hear this...A complaint to the hospital, trust, ccg, AND gmc very much in order.you did every thing right...and your cycling and fitness should have me this an easy ish journey.

As an ex NHS nurse tutor to this sounds appalling care to me. Can yr GP help?.

So sorry

Bestest

Mic

4

Oh my god what appalling treatment no wonder you are depressed. Have you seen your gp to tell him about how you feel you have been treated. Will you be having the op with a different surgeon? I don't think it's advisable to have the same uncaring surgeon. You must put in a complaint to the hospital when it's over. I don't think you will be mentally strong enough until you recover from the revision. Good luck with your op and hope all goes well for you. Take a day at a time concentrate on your love for your children I am sure they bring a smile to your face when you are with them. I realise how difficult it is not being able to participate normally with them. I had a difficult time after surgery and it was my grandchildren that made me fight to recover. The first 4 weeks I didn't get out of bed . I was supposed to look after my 1 year old grandson when my daughter returned to work. She didn't think I would be able, so I was determined to prove her wrong. It has been hard but it brought me back from sinking into a depression. You have been through a traumatic time and you are still sufferring there will be an end to it but it will take time. Hope this helps you Cameron.

5

Hello Cameron! Poor you! I hope you will write a letter of complaint to the hospital! No wonder your depressed! I hope you will be better soon! I am just over 6 weeks post op! Still bruised but getting there! I am not sleeping through the night but it will settle soon! Good luck! Regards Amanda

6

Hi Cameron

My heart goes out to you and your family,awful times.

Please seek some support from this forum but also via your gp.

Hope surgery goes well for later this month

Thinking of you

Dee xxx

7

Hi Cameron.

Youve had a terrible time of it for sure..unfortunately surgeons like all of us can and do make mistakes,but they will very rarely admit to it,and not knowing all your history it can be difficult to prove anyway.

If I were you I'd forget your first op for now, there's not much you can do anyway, and use all your energy to concentrate on your upcoming revision which hopefully will be successful so you can put the last 6 months behind you and move forward.

Try to make sure you have a surgeon with a proven good track record and insist he or she actually performs your op,or refuse to go ahead with it,I've just done exactly that with my recent 2nd THR,which has turned out well.

Really hope it goes well for you,good luck.

 

8

Hi Cameron, you have my sympathies, what a dreadful experience you have had.  complain to your GP, write a letter of complaint to the Hospital Trust, the hospital and the GMC.  Be prepared for them to club together and defend one another but they will investigate your complaint and look at your records.  I hope you soon feel better and this time everything is perfect.

9

Hi Cameron,

I can understand how awful this has been for you having been through a failed THR in October 2014 where the surgeon fitted an undersized stem which has sunken in the femur resulting in a shortening of my right leg also trapping my lateral cutaenous nerve and leaving a multilocular collection on my hip . I like you am waiting for a date for revision op, The operation was performed at the Royal Orthopeadic Hospital in Birmingham where they only deal with this type of surgery so you would think they if anyone would get it right. Like you when challenged the NHS seem to close ranks and make you feel as if it is your fault, I have made a formal complaint and involved solicitors the Health Obudsman but only my own perseverance has got me back in otherwise I think they would have just discharged me. I can only wish you the best of luck in sorting it out. I know from personal experience how depressing it must be for you I was playing golf twice a week before this now I cant do anything, I cant imagine how difficult it is with young children.

Reading these postings it occurs to me that so many of these ops go wrong in some way but none of these are published by the NHS 

10

Hi,

thanks for for your reply.

i have complained in writing on more than one occasion and actually have a written apology back from the surgeon, where he not only apologises but goes on to say he thinks they may have fitted the wrong part!! Unbelievable.

homerton is in Hackney, London. I don't recommend you use them for anything.

cam

11

Hi,

im glad glad to hear your surgery has gone well, I think I've just been unlucky shall we say.

a tip from me is try and get off the painkillers as soon as you can, they end up causing more dame than the initial procedure.

good luck!

12

Hi Paul,

jesus! I thought it couldn't get any worse than my predicament, you poor thing. What grates with me is the surgeons that bodged up our procedures are still working away and probably making further mistakes without any repercussions. I'm not letting my surgeon get away with it.

the only thing I'm interested in is getting fixed, once that's done which I hope it will be all corrected next week, I'll then turn my attentions to the surgeon. I've got a lawyer on the case and can't see what possible defence the surgeon can offer? He's even written to me apologising for his errors and also even suggesting they might have fitted the wrong part, as the part on the scans doesn't match the labels on the packaging from my surgery. Unbelievable.

i hope you get a revision date soon, good luck mate.

13

Gosh, I won't go there then.

Can you sue him or is there a clause in there, after all you must have suffered loss of earnings etc.

14

Ah I see you have it all in hand Cameron.

Well I wish you all the very best for the revision and hope you can sue the surgeon.

The parts are all supposed to be checked but I suppose as the surgeon, the buck stopped there.

29 April is just around the corner and we look forward to hearing from you both before and after op.

15

The next step to go to the Patients Liason Office (Pal) - you have to argue the case and go through advice - and outside help-.  

16

Hi Mary, 

Pals is usually the first port of call for any complaint but Cameron's case gas gone way beyond that point and he has, quite rightly, gone to lawyers after having no joy in complaining directly to the NHS.

17

Hi Cameron, 

I have to say I'm astounded at your treatment at the hands of an NHS surgeon and I'm so sorry for what you have suffered. I work for the NHS and can't believe that you haven't had this resolved without the need to involve a lawyer.  In the trust where I work any surgeon this incompetent would probably have been investigated and perhaps severely reprimanded if not fired.

I wish you luck with your revision and also with your attempt to get the previous poor treatment resolved. No one should have to suffer the way you have.

Take care.

Ali xx