Edward “Chip” Scharfschwerdt has a job usually performed by much younger men.

“I work for Grand Harbor as the beverage manager at their private beach club,” he explains, “and I’m on my feet about six to seven hours each day on a concrete pool deck.

“It’s a job they normally have a thirty-year-old do, and I’m sixty-four,” he adds with a laugh. “The crew I work with are all in their twenties, so when they’re tired, I’m tired!”

Perhaps as a result of his work, Chip was recently bothered by hip pain.

“Last year, I got up one morning and all of a sudden my left hip was hurting a little. Well, within two weeks, I had to lift my leg up just to get it into the car.”

He consulted Richard Steinfeld, MD, a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Steinfeld told Chip he was a good candidate for Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR), a bone-preserving procedure which can alleviate current pain while leaving the door open for future hip replacement.

What is BHR?

“Where there is a need to preserve the hip for as long as possible,” says Dr. Steinfeld, “the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing method provides optimum mobility and nearly complete preservation of the joint.”

The hip joint consists of a ball and socket, explains Dr. Steinfeld. “Whereas in a hip replacement procedure we replace the joint with a metal ball and plastic socket, with Birmingham Hip Resurfacing we simply resurface the ball. It’s basically like putting a large metal cap on it.

“Most people think this is a procedure for young people based solely on chronological age, but current research suggests that people over sixty can benefit from it,” reports the doctor. “The quality of the patient’s bone and their overall health and activity levels are the determining factors, and Chip was a perfect candidate.”

“It’s amazing!”

At eight months out of surgery, Chip notes that he is doing extremely well.

“The results are fantastic. It’s amazing,” he says. “The surgery was in June 2010 and I was allowed to work full-time again on Labor Day.

“Since I returned to work, I haven’t had a problem with it at all. I’m doing whatever I want to do, and I’m no longer aching everywhere.”

He thanks Dr. Steinfeld for providing the best solution.

“When Dr. Steinfeld told me I was a good candidate for the hip resurfacing procedure, I said, That sounds awesome . And it was awesome! I feel very fortunate that I got him as my surgeon.”

Knees Worn Out?

John “Ned” Hogan knew it was just a matter of time before he had his right knee replaced.

“It had been bothering me for a long time,” he says. “I wasn’t using my leg properly for a good two years, so the muscles started to deteriorate. I got to where I wasn’t even able to play golf because I was limping.”

Ned returned to his trusted physician, David W. Griffin, MD, also a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

“I’d had a ruptured bursa in my elbow a while back, and Dr. Griffin treated that,” explains Ned. “I knew he specializes in knees, shoulders, elbows, and hips, so it was a no-brainer.”

Dr. Griffin observes that Ned was an appropriate patient for a high-flex knee replacement.

“Ned is in his early sixties, and an avid golfer,” he says. “The severe pain in his knee was very incapacitating, not only with golf but also with just about everything else.

“Due to his relative youth, I wanted to be sure to use a prosthesis that has high flex and the ability to bend,” adds the doctor, “so that if he is participating in activities like golf or working around the house, he’ll be able to do those things.”

Dr. Griffin notes that Ned was both an excellent candidate for total knee replacement and a patient who realized afterwards that he could have had the procedure much sooner.

“Ned told me, I should have done this earlier , because he’s riding a bike now, being active, and feeling healthy. Whatever your age, when you have severe arthritis, there comes a point where it’s appropriate to have a joint replacement.”

Ned confirms that he would have benefited from an earlier surgical intervention.

“If I had it to do over again,” he reflects, “I probably would do it as soon as I knew something was going wrong. I wish I had gone in there a couple of years earlier.”

He says that the return to activities has been quite a revelation.

“It’s been eleven weeks now,” he reports, “and I’m back playing golf again. I’m really excited about it!”

Above all, Ned appreciates the doctor who helped him, both in the past and more recently.

“Dr. Griffin’s just a good guy, down-to-earth and easy to trust. I couldn’t ask for anyone better.”

FHCN – Michael J. Sahno