Hip Replacement Innovation
Harvard & MIT
After finishing his work in Chicago, Dr Hodge took a position with Harvard in Boston, then combined this with an appointment at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. There, he led the completion of a 15 year project which had invested over $14 million in building the first in-vivo sensors for the human hip.
Dr. Hodge successfully implanted this first externally powered, radio-transmitter into his patient in 1984. This implant produced a rich stream of data which was the first in-vivo hip stress measurements ever done. In 1986, he published the first report in Science Magazine and did a nation-wide news release on CNN News. A prototype of this device is currently in the MGH Surgical Museum in Boston.
Five years later, he successfully implanted the second hip radio-transmitter which validated the data from the first which had then been retrieved on demise of the first patient. Extensive testing was done on this first implant which also validated the important data obtained, This data would go on to change the way hip implants were designed and helped understand how the natural hip uses hydraulic mechanics to lower cartilage pressures. The orthopedic industry was able to use this early data to build better hip arthroplasty devices.
Hip Surgical Options
Hip Arthroscopy
Hip arthroscopic surgery is minimally invasive and done through small keyhole incisions usually as a simple day (outpatient) procedure. It is an excellent procedure for meniscal (knee cartilage) tears and removal of loose bodies in the joint. It is also helpful to guide labral or ligament repairs and reconstructions. The recovery is dependent on the exact surgery performed but usually can be fairly rapid in a matter of a few weeks.
Partial Joint Resurfacing
Only replaces one side of the joint, in hips this is the ball of the hip being replace usually for a displaced fracture of the femoral neck which can occur from a fall or other trauma. In a knee, it can be one of the three compartments of the knee: medial, lateral or femoral patellar compartments. These ‘partial’ joint replacements can preserve bone stock, involve a smaller incision, remove less bone, take less surgical time, decrease blood loss, and lead to a quicker recovery.
Total Joint Resurfacing
Most commonly done with the knee joint which is reconstructed over 2,000,000 per year world-wide. The hip joint is the next most reconstructed at 1,400,000 per year. The next most common joint replace is the shoulder joint which has gained in popularity over the last 10 years to about 250,000 per year. Complete replacement of a joint completely covers the articulation surfaces of the joint. This can eliminate joint pain while restoring joint function and is one of the most successful surgical procedures performed today. Dr Hodge has been active in improving hip replacement implants and has patented several innovative designs. His interest in measuring hip joint function and loads as well as studying implant wear on retrievals, has led to several journal publications which have changed the way implant manufacturers make new implants.