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In Texas, what is the best way to research and find the bet surgeon.

Posted by scwiese2713 @scwiese2713, 6 days ago

I have a left hip replacement due before the end of the year. I live in Texas, if that matters, how do I go about researching surgeons that have the best results and that do minimally invasive surgeries. I am a 74 year old active male. Thanks so much

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scwiese2713 | @scwiese2713 | 3 days ago
In reply to @mayo99824 "I live in Alaska. Because of the cost of medical care up here my insurance uses..." + (show)
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I live in Alaska. Because of the cost of medical care up here my insurance uses a service that looks for doctors across the country that can do our surgeries at better prices. They screen the doctors for things like numbers of similar operations per year, number of years experience, and success rates. These are not cheapo doctors. I say that because they use some of the same doctors in Seattle that we would have chosen anyway. For my hip, BMI was an issue that affected my options for surgeons.
For my bilateral hip replacement, they introduced me to Dr. Paul Saadi of Dallas Bone and Joint. He is affiliated with Legent in Plano. I am a year out from the surgeries and I am very satisfied with the results. I also really liked Dr. Saadi as a person.
PS. Prices for medical care in Alaska are sky high. The service my insurance uses, handles payment for the doctor, hospital, PT, flights for the patient and one person to accompany, hotels, food/taxi/miscellaneous per diem and another payment for post surgery AND they still save our insurance 1000’s of dollars as well. My bill for all this was $0.
PPS. Everyone is different but just a word to the wise. I get constipated with opioids and because the hip surgery is near the gastro system, I had an ileus for both surgeries. I got constipated with the opioids for my TKRs but no ileus. I don’t blame the doctors but more how my body reacted to the opioids and pain. It basically shut down my gut for a few days. After the first hip, I put myself on a liquid diet pre- and post- surgery for the second. That helped. No one tells you about this.

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@mayo99824 Thank you for the great information and referral! I certainly will check with Dr Saadi about my hip. So glad that your hip is doing well. I can imagine that it is hard to find doctors in Alaska. Also for you great insurance and zero out of pocket! We have been very blessed with great insurance also as we came down with a real nasty cancer and am now a 6 year survivor! We went to MDAnderson in Houston and between Medicare and BCBS supplement we too have spent zreo out of pocket, except for travel expenses. I pray that you continue to do well!

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scwiese2713 | @scwiese2713 | 3 days ago
In reply to @sueinmn "@scwiese2713 Check out the docs practicing at Baylor in Plano. Here is one resource for reviews:..." + (show)
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@scwiese2713 Check out the docs practicing at Baylor in Plano. Here is one resource for reviews:
https://health.usnews.com/doctors/hip-replacement/texas/dallas
Also, talk to friends, neighbors, coworkers, and if you know any, physical therapists. The PT was how I found my excellent Minnesota surgeon over 15 years ago.

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@sueinmn Thank you for your answer. I will check out the doctors there at the Baylor Plano hospital!

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kfhoz | @kfhoz | 3 days ago

In Texas I would check out knee & hip replacement surgeon Dr. Randall Schultz at Texas Orthopedics. He also had a knee replacement surgery. Here is a video by him.

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grandpun | @grandpun | 2 days ago

Much good advice in the above. I'd like to add (if not already mentioned):
How many of the candidate surgeons have had their initial surgery "revised".
If the surgeon is really good, then this number will be really low.
Best of luck and start PT as soon as you can to build up muscle first and not loose it post-op.

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steveinarizona | @steveinarizona | 2 days ago
In reply to @grandpun "Much good advice in the above. I'd like to add (if not already mentioned): How many..." + (show)
Profile picture for grandpun @grandpun

Much good advice in the above. I'd like to add (if not already mentioned):
How many of the candidate surgeons have had their initial surgery "revised".
If the surgeon is really good, then this number will be really low.
Best of luck and start PT as soon as you can to build up muscle first and not loose it post-op.

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@grandpun

Good point but a couple of caveats:

(1) if a surgeon specializes in difficult cases, it could be that he has a higher count of surgeries that need revision and it would be a result of his skill, not a detractor from it. and

(2) You need to figure this out, if you can, in percentage terms, not absolute numbers. A surgeon doing 20 procedures a week should have more needing revision than one doing 5.

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scwiese2713 | @scwiese2713 | 22 hours ago
In reply to @grandpun "Much good advice in the above. I'd like to add (if not already mentioned): How many..." + (show)
Profile picture for grandpun @grandpun

Much good advice in the above. I'd like to add (if not already mentioned):
How many of the candidate surgeons have had their initial surgery "revised".
If the surgeon is really good, then this number will be really low.
Best of luck and start PT as soon as you can to build up muscle first and not loose it post-op.

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@grandpun Thanks for the advice. Is there a site. that has those numbers or do you get that info from the surgeonn? Thanks

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grandpun | @grandpun | 21 hours ago
In reply to @scwiese2713 "@grandpun Thanks for the advice. Is there a site. that has those numbers or do you..." + (show)
Profile picture for scwiese2713 @scwiese2713

@grandpun Thanks for the advice. Is there a site. that has those numbers or do you get that info from the surgeonn? Thanks

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@scwiese2713
As far as I know, we have to depend on the individual surgeons for their revision rate.
Possibly a search of Medicare data on provider details may unearth some info.

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2 replies
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scwiese2713 | @scwiese2713 | 21 hours ago
In reply to @grandpun "@scwiese2713 As far as I know, we have to depend on the individual surgeons for their..." + (show)
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@scwiese2713
As far as I know, we have to depend on the individual surgeons for their revision rate.
Possibly a search of Medicare data on provider details may unearth some info.

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@grandpun. Thank you!

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | 13 hours ago
In reply to @grandpun "@scwiese2713 As far as I know, we have to depend on the individual surgeons for their..." + (show)
Profile picture for grandpun @grandpun

@scwiese2713
As far as I know, we have to depend on the individual surgeons for their revision rate.
Possibly a search of Medicare data on provider details may unearth some info.

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@grandpun

I wonder if that would indicate the infection rate of a specific surgeon.

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1 reply
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grandpun | @grandpun | 4 hours ago
In reply to @gravity3 "@grandpun I wonder if that would indicate the infection rate of a specific surgeon." + (show)
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@grandpun

I wonder if that would indicate the infection rate of a specific surgeon.

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@gravity3
Good question for vetting a surgeon. I'd be interested to know and even IF such situations are tracked though they must be recorded (or ???)
I've been super blessed with my several surgeries to have no infection episodes.
Thanks for adding this element of info.

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