At age 68, Harvey Partridge had yet to spend a night in the hospital. But all that changed in June when, while trying to remove his riding lawn mower from a utility shed, his mower rolled onto him and broke his right hip. The accident warranted a 9-1-1 call, surgery and a brief stay at Russell Medical Center (RMC).

RMC’s medical staff performed X-rays to learn the extent and exact location of his injury. Mr. Partridge requested Paul Goldhagen, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at RMC, to treat his fracture.

SPECIALIZED APPROACH
Based upon Mr. Partridge’s age and activity level, Dr. Goldhagen determined he would be a good candidate for a total hip replacement using the Anterior Supine Intermuscular (ASI) technique, or anterior approach. This technique allows the surgeon to reach the hip joint from the front as opposed to the side (lateral) or the back (posterior) without cutting any muscle. This way, the most important muscles for hip function and stability are left undisturbed. This allows for a quicker recovery and less pain, and patients require minimal therapy after surgery.

FAST RECOVERY
Conventional hip replacement usually requires that patients limit hip motion for six to eight weeks after surgery, which complicates normal activities like sitting in a chair, putting on shoes, climbing stairs or getting into a car. Patients who undergo anterior approach hip replacement enjoy a faster return to normal activities and can immediately bend below the waist and sit in low chairs and seats.

After surgery, patients are instructed to use their hip normally, without cumbersome restrictions. “I was up using a walker right away, and when I went for a follow-up visit with Dr. Goldhagen he expected me to be using a cane, so I gave it a try,” says Mr. Partridge of his brief recovery. “It was all pretty easy.” By six weeks, he was walking without a Back on his feet RMC offers less-invasive hip surgery cane or limp and needed only one formal physical therapy session.

COMMUNITY CARE
Now, just three months after surgery, Mr. Partridge is back to his normal daily activities with his wife, Myra, and keeps busy around the house. He appreciates having quality healthcare so close to home. “Dr. Goldhagen is the ‘bone guy’ and an excellent doctor. I was very happy to have him help me out,” says Mr. Partridge, who also credits the nursing staff with his quick recovery. “The nurses treated me like family. Coincidentally, I was in the National Guard with one of their fathers. You can’t find that in a big city.”