Woman 'pain-free' after hospital hip surgery first

A 77-year-old woman said she feels "so much better" and is now "pain-free" after undergoing a pioneering hip operation at a Sutton Coldfield hospital.

A team at Good Hope carried out its first hip revision surgery using a fully custom-made prosthesis on Katherine Broadhurst after a bespoke implant was designed to match her bone structure.

Hip revision is a surgical procedure that removes and replaces a worn-out, infected, or failed artificial hip joint from a previous replacement.

Several UK centres now use custom 3D-printed hip implants, but this is the first time one has been used at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

The team used patient-specific instrumentation – or specially made surgical guides that help surgeons remove bone and position implants with exceptional accuracy.

The patient had severe bone loss around a loose socket of her hip joint, after originally having both hips replaced about 20 years ago.

Over time, wear and tear caused one of the replacements to fail, leading to significant bone loss and severely affecting her mobility and comfort.

Following the surgery, she is recovering well and has been able to enjoy a cruise.

Broadhurst said: "I'm only six weeks post-op, but so I'm still taking everything slow and easy, but I feel so much better.

"The hip pain that used to follow me everywhere has completely gone now."

She added: "If your hip is deteriorating my advice would be don't put it off – go for it".

The trust stated her operation was an important step forward in developing its complex hip reconstruction service.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Rajpreet Sahemey, who led the procedure, said the ability to use the custom implant enabled the team to perform "highly complex reconstructions with precision and confidence".

"Solutions like this are transforming how we manage severe bone loss, ensuring patients receive tailored care that optimises outcomes," he added.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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