This case involves an 80-year-old male patient who underwent a hip replacement revision for his left hip. He required a revision due to infection in his first implant. Because of the infection, the patient required a second implant as well as a femur implant. The patient was transferred to a rehabilitation facility for physical therapy. Approximately 3 weeks into physical therapy, the patient was being lifted in a Hoyer lift when he felt a sudden severe pain. He was taken to the hospital where it was discovered that his hip replacement had dislocated and he required emergency surgery. The patient suffered numerous complications as a result of the third surgery. An expert orthopedic surgeon was sought to speak to causation and damages.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. How often do you perform hip replacements?
2. What would be some indications that the implant for a patient with a hip replacement was not properly placed at the initial surgery, leading the hip to be more prone to dislocation?
3. What would be some indications that a patient with a hip replacement was improperly lifted at physical therapy, leading to hip dislocation?
Expert Witness Response E-369755
I am an orthopedic surgeon with 20+ years of experience in the field of orthopedic surgery. I specialize in total hip replacements and knee arthroplasty, and I perform approximately 300 hip replacements per year. Some indications that the implant for a patient with a hip replacement was not properly placed at the initial surgery, leading the hip to be more prone to dislocation, include the following: the femoral component excessively anteverted or retroverted, the femoral stem not axial aligned down the femur or not in the canal.
About the author
Wendy Ketner, M.D.
Dr. Wendy Ketner is a distinguished medical professional with a comprehensive background in surgery and medical research. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Expert Institute, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's most important client relationships. Dr. Ketner's extensive surgical training was completed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she gained hands-on experience in various general surgery procedures, including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, appendectomies, mastectomies for breast cancer, breast reconstruction, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, and colorectal surgery. She also provided care in the surgical intensive care unit.
Her research interests have focused on post-mastectomy reconstruction and the surgical treatment of gastric cancer, including co-authoring a textbook chapter on the subject. Additionally, she has contributed to research on the percutaneous delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction.
Dr. Ketner's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from Yale University in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Moreover, she is a member of the Board of Advisors for Opollo Technologies, a fintech healthcare AI company, contributing her medical expertise to enhance healthcare technology solutions. Her role at Expert Institute involves leveraging her medical knowledge to provide insights into legal cases, underscoring her unique blend of medical and legal acumen.
