Geoffrey Westrich, MD

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fell in her office this week and fractured three ribs. She was hospitalized, but fortunately, is now back home now and doing well, according to news reports. Although the details of how the 85 year-old Supreme Court Justice fell have not been released, the mishap shines a spotlight on how serious a fall can be. It fact, a fall can be devastating for older adults in particular because their bones are more fragile. They often break a hip, sustain a severe head injury... or worse. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Justice Ginsburg well and remind everyone that measures can be taken to prevent falls indoors. In your own home, or in the home of a loved one, these strategies can help prevent an accident and keep people safe. Some of these measures can be applied to the work environment, as well: Ensure that the home is free of hazards such as slippery floors, rugs that are not secured and poorly lit areas. Install handra

Hip replacement surgery is highly successful in relieving pain, restoring mobility and improving quality of life. More than 330,000 procedures are performed each year in the United States, and that number is expected to almost double by the year 2030.  As with all surgical procedures, the possibility of a complication exists, and dislocation is the most common problem. The risk of dislocation is higher in patients who have had a second hip replacement, known as revision surgery. Some people need a revision surgery many years after their first hip replacement when the original implant wears out. Hip instability after joint replacement is another reason a patient might need a revision surgery.     Research conducted at Hospital for Special Surgery, where I am director of research of the Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service, and other joint replacement centers indicates that a newer type of artificial hip known as a “modular dual mobility” implant could be a good option

More than 330,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed in the United States each year. Overall, it is a highly successful procedure. However, as with all surgeries, a risk for complications exists.  Dislocation is one of the most common complications after hip replacement and the number one reason for revision surgery. A study we conducted at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) found that patients who received a newer implant known as a “dual mobility” hip replacement had zero dislocations.   In comparison, study patients who received a traditional fixed bearing hip implant had a dislocation rate of 5 percent. The research, which focused on patients under 55 years old, was presented last month at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in New Orleans.   We were especially interested in seeing how the younger patient population fared because they are generally more active and put more demands and stress on their hip after joint replacement, and this i