Ortho Surgery at HSS or YNH

[Stinger92860]

I’m no stranger to ortho surgery having 6 so far, both knees, one elbow, 3 on shoulders. All successful so I can play tennis, basketball, etc. it’s been the same surgeon over 15 years, but now I require an Ortho specialist.

I have the ability to grow bone spurs throughout my body. The ball of the femur on my left leg is now shaped more like an egg. My goal is to have it shaved, much like my shoulders/elbow. The is the amount of labrum damage, I believe. So I’m having consultations at HSS in NYC and Yale New Haven. Both my mom and a daughter had what I would call cutting edge successful surgery, not ortho, at YNH in the past 3 years so I am hopeful I can go the most minimally invasive route.

My question for the board: does anyone have any good or bad surgical experiences with either facility? I did have a friend have a botched procedure at HSS which ended his amateur athletic career, but my brother in law had very successful back surgery there.

One additional note for the insurance professionals here, HSS is out of my Aetna network. Any tips or hacks you can share?

Thanks in advance!

 

[WhereistheDove?]

My experience (ignoring the insurance considerations). My wife had hip surgery a few years ago and we were looking at HSS and NYU. We asked several friends that were in the medical field and heard a very common response: you live close to the best orthopedic hospital in the world (HSS), go there.

 

[imno1]

I can’t offer any real advice but I’d be more concerned with the surgeon than the facility

 

[Umami Zen]

I’m no stranger to ortho surgery having 6 so far, both knees, one elbow, 3 on shoulders. All successful so I can play tennis, basketball, etc. it’s been the same surgeon over 15 years, but now I require an Ortho specialist.

I have the ability to grow bone spurs throughout my body. The ball of the femur on my left leg is now shaped more like an egg. My goal is to have it shaved, much like my shoulders/elbow. The is the amount of labrum damage, I believe. So I’m having consultations at HSS in NYC and Yale New Haven. Both my mom and a daughter had what I would call cutting edge successful surgery, not ortho, at YNH in the past 3 years so I am hopeful I can go the most minimally invasive route.

My question for the board: does anyone have any good or bad surgical experiences with either facility? I did have a friend have a botched procedure at HSS which ended his amateur athletic career, but my brother in law had very successful back surgery there.

One additional note for the insurance professionals here, HSS is out of my Aetna network. Any tips or hacks you can share?

Thanks in advance!

Don't know about your proximity to UConn Health Ctr in Farmington but they have some excellent surgeons/drs for spine/back.. UConn's reputation has been improving/evolving over the last 10-15 years and they are attracting/retaining highly rated drs/surgeons.. For future reference..

Edit: Could probably facilitate an intro to Ortho specialist through spine/back contacts for second opinion if interested.

 

[ColchVEGAS]

My cousin, who is an orthopedic surgeon in CA, told me to use UConn Health or Yale for my back injury after she looked at my MRI and thought I needed micro disc surgery. UConn Health was great for a second opinion and I have thus far avoided surgery and now have feeling back in my leg and foot based on the spine specialists plan of action.

I also used UConn's ortho for my shoulder surgery 5 years ago which was fantastic and highly successful. We have a bunch of good orthos/doctors in general in CT.

 

[SamIamCassell]

I’m no stranger to ortho surgery having 6 so far, both knees, one elbow, 3 on shoulders. All successful so I can play tennis, basketball, etc. it’s been the same surgeon over 15 years, but now I require an Ortho specialist.

I have the ability to grow bone spurs throughout my body. The ball of the femur on my left leg is now shaped more like an egg. My goal is to have it shaved, much like my shoulders/elbow. The is the amount of labrum damage, I believe. So I’m having consultations at HSS in NYC and Yale New Haven. Both my mom and a daughter had what I would call cutting edge successful surgery, not ortho, at YNH in the past 3 years so I am hopeful I can go the most minimally invasive route.

My question for the board: does anyone have any good or bad surgical experiences with either facility? I did have a friend have a botched procedure at HSS which ended his amateur athletic career, but my brother in law had very successful back surgery there.

One additional note for the insurance professionals here, HSS is out of my Aetna network. Any tips or hacks you can share?

Thanks in advance!

I am a medical device rep that is in the OR for cases. DM me and I can point you in the right direction.

 

[Shamon30]

YNH was abusive toward my mother when she was dying from cancer and one of their surgeons dropped my insurance without notifying me, leaving me without treatment for an extremely painful chronic condition. My advice I'd to avoid them like the plague.

 

[sledog]

I haave similar issue w L shoulder - arthritic growth at top of humerous. Looking to do a 'shave' - ie, shoulder decompression /acromioplasty (although for humerous) at NYU. Great surgeons, and best hospital in US. Did my R hip there 5 yrs ago.

Cousin told me they had chosen Harttford over Yale due to Yale's fall in cardiac ratings / quality.

 

[Stinger92860]

I can’t offer any real advice but I’d be more concerned with the surgeon than the facility

I agree. I chose HSS becuase I have access to the surgeon who operated on ARod’s hip and the Dr at YNH co-authored a book on a potential less invasive procedure that I am looking into.

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback!!

 

[Stinger92860]

Edit: Could probably facilitate an intro to Ortho specialist through spine/back contacts for second opinion if interested.

Thank you, however this is a hip only issue. Lucky for me spine and back are in excellent working order at this time (knock on wood).

I am essentially at a mid-point between HSS NYC and YNH. I won‘y divulge names but I saw a highly recommended surgeon, in the Connecticut top docs list, and he essentially blew me off. I honestly have no idea if an arthroscopic solution will work, he spent so little time with me. I guess he would prefer to work on younger athletes. So, I am going for another opinion across 2 options.

 

[NJHusky]

I agree. I chose HSS becuase I have access to the surgeon who operated on ARod’s hip and the Dr at YNH co-authored a book on a potential less invasive procedure that I am looking into.

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback!!

This is the answer. The person doing the cutting is what matters. Do It where they are comfortable. Good luck.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I’m no stranger to ortho surgery having 6 so far, both knees, one elbow, 3 on shoulders. All successful so I can play tennis, basketball, etc. it’s been the same surgeon over 15 years, but now I require an Ortho specialist.

I have the ability to grow bone spurs throughout my body. The ball of the femur on my left leg is now shaped more like an egg. My goal is to have it shaved, much like my shoulders/elbow. The is the amount of labrum damage, I believe. So I’m having consultations at HSS in NYC and Yale New Haven. Both my mom and a daughter had what I would call cutting edge successful surgery, not ortho, at YNH in the past 3 years so I am hopeful I can go the most minimally invasive route.

My question for the board: does anyone have any good or bad surgical experiences with either facility? I did have a friend have a botched procedure at HSS which ended his amateur athletic career, but my brother in law had very successful back surgery there.

One additional note for the insurance professionals here, HSS is out of my Aetna network. Any tips or hacks you can share?

Thanks in advance!

PM me and I have a personal rec.

 

[dennismenace]

I had a hip replacement by the below doc in Nov 2019. I was 70 at the time. The procedure was through the front instead of the posterior which avoids cutting through muscle and tendons and is a much quicker turnaround. I was up and walking with a walker in the afternoon.

Dr. John Keggi | Orthopaedics New England | Orthopaedic Surgeon

Dr. John Keggi is an attending orthopaedic surgeon at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, and New Milford Hospital.

www.orthonewengland.com

Here is more detail on the anterior approach which I would highly recommend for these reasons.

Anterior hip replacement: Old approach is new again

So why does Paul Yau, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, refer to direct anterior hip replacement as “revolutionary?”

www.covenanthealth.com

 

[uconnfan68]

I had a hip replacement by the below doc in Nov 2019. I was 70 at the time. The procedure was through the front instead of the posterior which avoids cutting through muscle and tendons and is a much quicker turnaround. I was up and walking with a walker in the afternoon.

Dr. John Keggi | Orthopaedics New England | Orthopaedic Surgeon

Dr. John Keggi is an attending orthopaedic surgeon at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, and New Milford Hospital.

www.orthonewengland.com

Here is more detail on the anterior approach which I would highly recommend for these reasons.

Anterior hip replacement: Old approach is new again

So why does Paul Yau, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, refer to direct anterior hip replacement as “revolutionary?”

www.covenanthealth.com

Had my hip done by his partner, Dr Robert Kennon, also in 2019. He also did both of my wife’s knees, and sister-in-law’s hips. We all highly recommend him.

 

[Stinger92860]

I had a hip replacement by the below doc in Nov 2019. I was 70 at the time. The procedure was through the front instead of the posterior which avoids cutting through muscle and tendons and is a much quicker turnaround. I was up and walking with a walker in the afternoon.

Dr. John Keggi | Orthopaedics New England | Orthopaedic Surgeon

Dr. John Keggi is an attending orthopaedic surgeon at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, and New Milford Hospital.

www.orthonewengland.com

Here is more detail on the anterior approach which I would highly recommend for these reasons.

Anterior hip replacement: Old approach is new again

So why does Paul Yau, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, refer to direct anterior hip replacement as “revolutionary?”

www.covenanthealth.com

Dr Keggi passed away in 2018 or around there. His understudy was Lee Rubin. The DAA procedure book was co-authored by Keggi and Rubin.

If I ultimately need a full replacement I will likely use YNH.

Thanks to everyone. This is a big decision for me, I would prefer to save the hip If possible.

 

[superjohn]

Dr Keggi passed away in 2018 or around there. His understudy was Lee Rubin. The DAA procedure book was co-authored by Keggi and Rubin.

If I ultimately need a full replacement I will likely use YNH.

Thanks to everyone. This is a big decision for me, I would prefer to save the hip If possible.

He did my dad and brother's knees back in the day. St. Mary's had some excellent docs.

 

[huskymedic]

Dr Keggi passed away in 2018 or around there.

You sure about that…?

 

[Giddyup5]

Are you talking about hip arthroscopy, CAM debridement and labral repair?

Or hip resurfacing?

Agree with the poster that the hospital doesn’t matter. The general public doesn’t realize that some of the “big name” surgeons at research institutes such as HSS, Harvard, Mayo have some of the worst hands in the business. They spend most of their time doing research.

Flip side is that many community hospitals now have very talented surgeons.

 

[dennismenace]

Dr Keggi passed away in 2018 or around there. His understudy was Lee Rubin. The DAA procedure book was co-authored by Keggi and Rubin.

If I ultimately need a full replacement I will likely use YNH.

Thanks to everyone. This is a big decision for me, I would prefer to save the hip If possible.

I believe the Dr Keggi who died was the uncle of Dr John Keggi.

Kristaps Keggi - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Dr John is much younger and is still specialized in this procedure. His uncle was 80 +years old. He was using that procedure for a number of years before John.

 

[huskymedic]

I believe the Dr Keggi who died was the uncle of Dr John Keggi.

Kristaps Keggi - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Dr John is much younger and is still specialized in this procedure. His uncle was 80 +years old. He was using that procedure for a number of years before John.

I’m pretty sure Uncle Kristaps is still alive as well.

 

[Edward Sargent]

My father had triple bypass surgery at YNH in 1971 with one of DeBakey's original surgical residents. He was given 50/50 to survive. He did and went on to enjoy 25 more years. YNH has a very special place in my heart. My wife had hip replacement at HSS and swears by them. She has gone nearly 16 years with that hip with no issues. She has since had her other hip replaced down here in Clearwater also with no problems. My wife also had a laminectomy down here (she has the same problem you do with bone spurs) and when meeting the surgeon was wondering if she should get a second opinion. Our surgeon down here who came highly recommended said great idea. My wife had seen a spine specialist at HSS a few years before for a cortisone shot and our doc down here said if she would be comfortable speaking to a do doctor at HSS he would recommend a consult with the Chief of spine surgery. He then said I know him well he was one of my residents when I was chief resident at a Philadelphia hospital. He also said we do about 10 times the volume of these surgeries a year. So my long winded point is you should consider is how many surgeries of the type you are considering has each of the surgeon's done.

 

[Improviser]

Dr Keggi passed away in 2018 or around there. His understudy was Lee Rubin. The DAA procedure book was co-authored by Keggi and Rubin.

If I ultimately need a full replacement I will likely use YNH.

Thanks to everyone. This is a big decision for me, I would prefer to save the hip If possible.

About a year ago, my arborist had a hip replacement with Dr. Rubin and was up and about in 2 weeks. Had home PT for two weeks and nothing more was required after that. He praised Dr. Rubin's demeanor and the short post-op recovery.

He told me he has no residual symptoms and can walk around properties all day long (his usual routine) without a trace of difficulty.

 

[Mike-CT]

SWMBO had major spine surgery done by Dr Sama at HSS this past March. We had a great experience overall and highly recommend.