The french technique

Bones, joints and muscles
1

For all those waiting for a THR. My brother recently had a THR private

health insurance with Professor Field who uses the French tecnique.

The difference is he doesn't cut any muscles or tendons but separates

them. My brother went in on tuesday morning and WALKED out of the

hospital on Thursday morning without crutches!

He got a taxi home on his own.

He didn't need any equipment at home and was in very little pain.

2 weeks later he was on a bike.

The operation only took 1 hour as ours takes 2 and of course the recovery

Period is much quicker, this would save the NHS thousands of pounds and

would enable them to operate on twice as many patients and get the

waiting list down.

WE SHOULD CAMPAIGN TO GET THIS DONE

This is used in France.

We used to be the leaders in medicine but now we are like a third world

2

Whereabouts in the uk does professor field perform this operation please ? 

3

Hi Mary, my brother had his done at the Cheam hospital in surrey, but it was private.

4

Is this the anterior approach that is popular in the US where the incision is in the groin

5

The French use the anterior approach which is used by several private hospitals in U.K. The NHS tend to use the posterior approach. 

6

That is impressive.  I had anterior THR.  I went home the next day with a walker.  4 days on the walker and 2 weeks with the cane. After 2 weeks I was told I could do anything I wanted, move my leg and hip in any direction I wanted. My muscles were so bad from the hip being damaged for so many years that my only issues are trying to get my strength back. My surgery cut only my skin to get to the bone, the muscles were moved and no muscles or tendons were cut. I couldn't be more pleased with this approach. The French one sounds like a step up from mine. There's always room for improvement.  Thank you for sharing that information. My right hip will need replacing in a few years and I'm hoping that the surgeons will learn that approach by then.

7

Sounds good but I think it is down to the surgeon what technique is used unless for example a special table is needs.

As a point of interest my original hip surgery twenty years ago was posterior and I only needed one stick when I left hospital which I put to one sides day or two later. Just saying.

Cheers Richard

8

Hi Valerie

That is the most amazing news. I fully agree with you, it should be available here I have had both hips replaced in the last 4 months, God willing it won't be needed for me now but I hope for all patients and any of us needing re-replacements in the future that the UK follows France.

Thanks for the news.

Best wishes X

9

Thanks was hoping there would be someone in the Manchester area .

10

I had my hip replaced privately by Sarah Muirhead Allwood. She used the same technique. None of my muscles were cut - they were simply stretched. It makes recovery much shorter although you must still do the exercises as the stretched muscles become quite tight in response to the stretching. I don't think it's an uncommon technique here where the replacement is a straightforward one? I was walking completely without a crutch at 3 weeks.

11

And I should add that I had the normal (side) incision.

12

And I have a very small scar.

13

Hi Valerie

ive just had (4 months ago) a superpath operation in a Nuffield hospital by I believe one of the only surgeons in uk who do it. I was however in theatre longer than the normal approach, being told because the surgeon is working within the hip joint is more intricate working around the tendons and muscles so therefore slower.  He only does private and like you said if the NHS started using this type of surgery would in the long term save money! Your brother sounds like he was very lucky, I wasn't as quick as him- in hospital 2 days and a much longer recovery, but an amazing operation, a very small scar and I forget I've had the surgery on that side! Just need my other side done now to feel brand new x

14

Dear Angel

I can quite understand the attraction of a smaller scar for some people but at the end of the day it is the success of the procedure that for me is the crucial consideration though it does seem to be a really positive thing if cutting nerves and muscles can be avoided.   Can you share with us why after having this procedue your recovery was or is protracted?

All the best, Richard

 

15

Hi Veronica, they use the anterior approach which is slightly forward of the posterior.

16

Hi, yes as it is the French technique they use the anterior approach

17

Hi, I had a THR 4 years ago and I am still trying to get my muscles to work properly in that side, also have an 18mm leg difference so I too am hoping by the time I have the other side done the NHS will have learned this approach.

18

Hi, you are very lucky, nobody has heard of it in Bedfordshire. I am presuming your op was similar to the French technique, but my brother's op only took 1 hour and he was able to walk out of the hospital after 2 days without crutches or sticks.

I hope by the time I have my other hip dkne they will have learned this method.

19

Dear Valerie

I think you will find that it is not a matter of NHS policy but up to the particular surgeon. If it is necessary for the use of a drop table then that would be a hospital capital cost consideration as I see it

Cheers Richard

20

dear richard, 

I think you're absolutley right -- In the USA it is a bit more advanced in using the super path and anterior method --- posterior, like I had, is considered middle age ... oh well ... 

I live in the Netherlands now and the anterior approach is done by orto surgeons who are specially trained in this - and yes, they will need a special table - 

my surgeon was not trained in the anterior method and not so much in favor of it (yet) either - maybe the healing is faster, but by 6 weeks, both approaches should be equal -- wtih anterior the possibility to have nerves damaged increases also ...

Most important to me is that ortho surgeon has done many many hip replacement surgeries and that I trust him - 

angel blessings

renee