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Anterior Approach Hip Replacement at Saint John’s Health Center
Helps Tom Watson Play Historic British Open SANTA MONICA,
Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Most avid golfers who have undergone hip
replacement surgery consider themselves extremely fortunate to play
18 holes again. Three months after undergoing an anterior approach
hip replacement at Saint John’s Health Center, Tom Watson returned
to professional golf. Six months later, the 59-year-old finished
tied for the lead in regulation play of the 2009 British Open. This
unprecedented performance will stand as a singular milestone in
professional sports.
Just nine months before the British Open, Watson’s hip was so
painful he couldn’t sleep, let alone competitively play on an
18-hole course. The winner of eight major championships, Watson had
a severely limited range of motion that had adversely affected his
game. After seeing Dr. Joel Matta, founder and director of Saint
John’s Hip and Pelvis Institute in Santa Monica, he agreed to
undergo hip replacement surgery.
"I studied a variety of surgeons and techniques. I wanted to know
about complication rates, recovery time and how well the anatomy was
put back together," Watson said. "I decided on total replacement
rather than hip resurfacing. Then I sought the best surgeon. After a
lot of due diligence, I selected Dr. Joel Matta."
Dr. Matta, who is recognized as an authority on anterior approach
hip replacement surgery, has performed more than 1,800 primary
anterior approach hip surgeries and provides training for surgeons
in the United States and internationally.
The anterior approach lets the surgeon reach the hip joint from the
front of the body instead of from the back or side and with a 3- to
4-inch incision. This allows the hip to be replaced without
detachment of muscles from the pelvis or thigh bone (femur) during
surgery. Watson concluded that the anterior approach had a number of
advantages over other hip replacement techniques. His research
determined the anterior approach is the least invasive, allows for
faster recovery times, provides maximum range of motion and reduces
risk of complications such as hip dislocation.
"I don’t know of another instance of an athlete of any age
successfully competing at the top level of professional sports with
an artificial joint," said Dr. Matta. "In relation to this, Tom
deserves tremendous credit for his dedication to rehabilitating his
hip. From a surgeon’s standpoint, I believe that his performance
demonstrates that the anterior approach has helped advance hip
replacement to a new level."
Dr. Matta said that the success of the surgery is enhanced by using
a special table with robotic function that he developed with a
surgical equipment company. The HANATM table holds and turns the
patient and lower extremity precisely as needed, giving the surgeon
better access and limiting soft tissue trauma.
"The special table, supine patient position and during surgery X-ray
checks combine to ensure that both the position of the components
and leg length will be correct, which are critical to normal hip
function," Dr. Matta said. "As surgeons, we need to assure that the
muscles around the hip aren’t disturbed, the parts are fitted and
oriented properly, and that the leg length is correct."
Tom Watson agreed. "Hip rotation drives the golf swing and the
anterior approach is the way to go for hip replacement surgery," he
said.
Since its founding in 1942 by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth,
Saint John’s Health Center has been providing the patients and
families of Santa Monica, West Los Angeles and ocean communities
with breakthrough medicine and inspired healing. Saint John’s
provides a spectrum of treatment and diagnostic services with
distinguished areas of excellence in cancer care, spine,
orthopedics, women’s health, cardiac care and specialized programs
such as the internationally acclaimed John Wayne Cancer Institute.
Saint John’s is dedicated to bringing to the community the most
innovative advances in medicine and technology.
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