Woman wants hip replacement surgery but told she’s too young

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26- year old Katie Perry occasionally needs a cane to help her walk. She used to be active and happy, until a car accident 9 years ago that severely injured her hip. Pain so bad, Katie has tried to take her own life. She is convinced a hip replacement will give her some of her life back, but surgeon after surgeon keeps telling her the answer is no.

She’s been told by at least 10 surgeons they will not operate on her. They says Katie’s too young, overweight and of childbearing age.

“I always felt it was unfair to deny young people good quality of life.” Dr James Waddell is an orthopaedic surgeon at St. Michaels Hospital in Toronto. He also chaired an expert panel for health quality Ontario on hip replacements.

He disagrees with the notion Katie is too young. “If they have a good understanding of the risks involved and if their disability is significant then I think a hip replacement surgery is a good option for them.”

Ontario’s health ministry seems to agree. It has replaced 40 hips on people 30 years old or younger since April, which makes Katie wonder why not her? “It should be the patient’s choice if I understand all the risks.”

Dr. Waddell says materials used to replace the hip now make it last longer. Maybe up to 20 years. Some surgeons worry a person in their 20’s may need 3 or more replacements in their lifetime.

“Each time they have an operation the risk of complications increases and the quality of the result decreases over time.”

Metals used in the hip could affect a pregnant woman’s fetus. Not a worry for Katie. She says she doesn’t want children. Which makes the reason for not giving her the hip replacement, all the harder to understand.