My robotic hip replacement story is far from tragic!

Advancements in technology continue to redefine the possibilities of healthcare. One such innovation, robotic-assisted surgery, has revolutionized joint replacements, offering greater precision and faster recovery times. For many, myself included, this technology has not only restored mobility but also rekindled hope for a pain-free future. There is nothing “tragic” about might robotic hip replacement experience! I’m Frank Greco, The Travel Guy and I’d like to share my hip surgery and recovery experience. I hope for all of you who are experiencing hip or knee pain this article will ease your mind about the surgery and perhaps inspire you to look into getting a robotic hip replacement. This technology is surely a game changer in orthopaedic surgery, and for those suffering with knee or hip pain, there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Diagnosing my hip problem

I began experiencing muscle pain on both my right and left legs stemming from the bottom of my back. At first, I let it go, thinking it was a strain but it kept getting worse. I visited my family doctor who suggested chiropractic treatment, thinking it might be a Sciatic Nerve problem (pain that extends from the buttocks and travels down each leg). I tried the Chiropractor thinking it was just that, but it wasn’t. The pain kept progressing and became extreme.

One evening the pain was so bad that I went to a walk-in clinic. The doctor on duty ordered x-rays at the clinic and sure enough he looked at them and told me that my pain was coming from the arthritis in my hips and it looked bad. “Mr. Greco, you needed your hips replaced,” he stated…That was a shock to me.

The Ontario healthcare process

I informed my family doctor and immediately they referred me to a central surgical centre where they would select a surgeon and date for surgery to replace my hips. That was fine and dandy by I knew nothing of the procedure or what was involved.

After my first meeting with the assigned surgeon, I was given some information and was told that they would go in through my back and buttocks to replace the ball of my femur bone (the Posterior Approach). The recovery would take a while and my right leg may be slightly shorter or longer than my left leg. ‘What? Really?’ I thought. What worried me the most was the length of the incision at least 10 – 12 inches or more in length from my buttock down the side of my leg.

I went back to my family doctor asking for guidance, but this was the only referral their office had for me. “Come on, in today’s technologically advanced hospitals, there must be something else,” I kept saying to myself. I looked at injections and tried them thinking they were a solution, but they did not work, and my pain kept getting more excruciating. I did not want to have that type of surgery feeling it would be too invasive on me as I do not think I am as courageous as others.

Severe pain

I needed to understand the surgery better to convince myself it would be fine. After-all, I needed this surgery because now it was very difficult for me to stand or walk. The pain was severe, I now was getting around with a walking cane. Getting in and out of bed, and sleeping was very painful. Getting in and out of the car was a struggle at the best of times and each bump on the road shot agonizing pain into my hips and legs.

Types of hip surgery

I now wanted the pain to go away, and to have my quality of life back, walking without pain or strain. did some more research into the type of surgery I was told I would need, “The Posterior Approach.” As I was delving deeper and deeper into the research, I came across two other kinds of hip replacement techniques. The Lateral Approach from the side of the leg, which seemed to be a shorter incision and a newer technique called the Anterior or Direct Anterior Approach. This is where the surgeon makes the incision on the front of the thigh. The incision is about 5 inches in length.

The Direct Anterior approach is less intrusive because no tissue or muscles are cut, making for a quicker recovery. Wow, what luck, this was for me!

My interest was piqued and by accident, I noticed another article on Robotic Hip Replacement. What? Really?Robotics, now that sounds like Star Wars or like the robotic assembly line at an automobile plant. But who does this type of surgery? Truly the field equates to a very small number of hospitals and trained surgeons that can do this type of surgery.

What is Robotic Hip Replacement?

Robotic Hip Replacement is when damaged tissue/bone in your hip gets replaced with an artificial joint, and it is done with assistance from a robotic arm. Using robotics for surgery allows for greater precision. The robotic arm guides the prosthetic cup required and places it at the desired angle as outlined in the surgical plan. With the diseased bone removed, a total hip implant is inserted in the joint space.

Robotic technologies enhance the orthopaedic surgeon’s expertise for more precise planning, tissue removal and implant placement. With robotic technology, the surgeon is able to better align and position the hip implant. This simply means that one leg will not be slightly longer or shorter than the other and your hip will be perfectly aligned and balanced.

Robotic surgery: Accuracy and precision

As I read the articles and viewed videos with interest, I kept getting the message of how accurate and precise this type of surgery is and how fast it is done with the patient usually released from the hospital the same day, with hours of their surgery. It provides the surgeon with pin-point accuracy in the surgery procedure, a much smaller incision is needed (approximately a 5-6 inch incision), no muscles or tissue are cut and the recovery time is much quicker.

I was sold on Robotic Surgery!

I discussed this with my family doctor but unfortunately, my doctor did not know about robotic surgery or even who in Ontario offered this surgery. It was up to me to do the research and then my family doctor would send the referral for hip replacement.

By luck or fate, I happened to have a dear friend who had both knees replaced a few years prior and she raved about this new hospital (Humber River Health) and her surgeon, Dr. Sebastian Rodriguez-Elizalde, but most important was her telling me how smoothly her surgery went. I researched the surgeon and the Humber River Health (HRH) hospital’s fracture division where she had her surgery. Well, wouldn’t you know it; they offered Robotic Surgery. In fact, they were the first Hospital in Canada to adopt Robotic Surgery and the surgeon, Dr. Sebastian Rodriguez-Elizalde performed the very first surgery with the robotic arm in October 2020.

Humber River Health: The first hospital in Canada doing robotic knee replacements

Humber River Health was the first hospital in Canada to acquire the Orthopaedic surgery robot for knee replacement surgery. They have progressed a long way since then. Humber River Health is also a teaching hospital in this new technology to other hospitals and surgeons. Their navigation technology for anterior hip replacement (like I had done) which measured the cup required and leg length in degrees and millimetres ensures better accuracy and quality of surgery.

Dr. Rodriguez-Elizalde focuses on Adult Hip and Knee Arthroplasty. The part I really liked is that he specializes on the Anterior approach to hip replacements through minimally invasive hip and knee replacement surgery, which put me at ease.

Incredible hospital experience

The process I experienced before my surgery was very calming and reassuring. Each individual, from admitting, to the anesthesiologist, to the surgeon, to the rehab department all worked in unison to make me understand the process and to ensure I would be prepared. Although a hip replacement is major surgery, it is now considered a common procedure due to the advancements in technology, the Direct Anterior approach and the robotics.

The day of my surgery

Surgery day came and I arrived at the hospital 90 minutes prior to my scheduled surgery time. Check-in was very calming as I changed into the hospital gown, had my blood pressure taken, answered questions on how I was feeling, had an intravenous needle put into the back of my left hand and taken into the pre-operation room where my bed was waiting.

The anesthesiologist came in and discussed the process. I was going to get a few injections in my back (like an epidural) to freeze me from the waist down. Within minutes, I could not feel a thing from my waist down. I felt like a cartoon character, Fred Flintstone to be exact, when he stubbed his large toe and it swelled up like a balloon and throbbed uncontrollably. My whole lower body felt four times as large and numb. At this point I was ready and was wheeled to the operating room.

All I remember was seeing the lights on the ceiling as the bed was being moved to the operating room. One of the doctors in the operating room said to me, “your back may feel a little cold because we are transferring you to a table.”

I was feeling really good because the anaesthesia was taking effect. I do remember blinking and seeing the same round light above me and asking, “How long will the surgery take?” To my surprise I was told, “we are finished and moving you back to the recovery room.” Just like that, in the blink of my eyes, the surgery was done!

Whole process took less than two hours!

I was in recovery for about 10-15 minutes when the freezing went away and I could feel my legs and wiggle my toes. I was given a sandwich, a soft drink and a couple of nurses would check my vital signs and progress of my post-surgery recovery from time to time.

About 60-minutes had passed when a physical therapy nurse came and directed me to make certain movement and checked on my pain level (my pain level was 0). She said it was time to dress myself and do some walking to see if I could be released.

I got dressed and took the assistive walker I had with me (which is needed after surgery) and I walked down the hallway and back, without any pain or restriction. She was satisfied and said I could go home. I literally walked out of the HRH hospital in less than 2 hours from the time of the completed hip replacement surgery, totally pain free! Now it’s my left side that needs to be replaced and will experience this process once again!

To the technologically advanced Humber River Health hospital and of course, skilled surgeons like Dr. Rodriguez-Elizalde and the surgical teams who are innovating and improving less intrusive procedures that result in quicker recovery times for all patients and give back a greater quality of life.

Thank you!

What I learned about getting a hip replacement:

1. Do your research, unfortunately your family doctor does not know everything that is out there. Find out what is best for you.
2. Direct Anterior Approach is less intrusive and provides a quicker recovery time.
3. There are only a few hospitals and surgeons trained in Robotic surgery across Ontario, but the number is growing.
4. Wait times are long.

Frank Greco is a freelance writer known for his travel and culinary articles as well as his television productions of The Travel Guy travel series, Gourmet Escapes culinary series and his other lifestyle productions. Connect with Frank on Instagram (thetravelguy1); Facebook (frank.greco.338) or LinkedIn.

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