Once of my uncles credits his d*g, Betsy, with the success of his
first hip replacement. He says that getting up and walking Besty gave
him the exercise he needed for it to heal correctly. Unfortunately
Betsy had gone to the Bridge before he had the second hip done, and it
has always given him problems.

Orthopedics is by no means my specialty, but I have learned there it's
wise to look into the specific make and model of a past or proposed
replacement device -- not just the surgeon's experience. It's possible.
for example, that Pat has a device on which there might be an FDA recall
or advisory -- worth checking, because it may save lots of money, and
give approaches to replacing the replacement.

Apparently, there is also a very wide cost range in replacements, which
resulted in a major fiasco here in the Virginia suburbs of Washington
DC.  There is a very respected and large orthopedic group called the
Anderson Clinic. They had a four-story office building next to what was
then National Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital. The hospital was
also quite good in its niche -- many rehab hospitals concentrate on
neurologic and other non-orthopedic problems, and the ancillary services
ranging from physical therapy to radiology tended to have special
expertise in orthopedics.

The hospital administration told the lead hip specialist in Anderson
that they would not allow use of a particular replacement, apparently
because the hospital was inadequately reimbursed.  The hip specialist,
one of the senior partners, insisted on that model. The hospital refused.

In response, all the Anderson orthopedists pulled their practice out of
the hospital, which had formed a critical part of its admissions.
Evemtually, the hospital closed as a specialty facility. Attempts to
convert it to general care failed, and it was torn down for a parking
garage. Everybody lost.

I do recommend Pat find out the exact model he has and what is proposed,
and check with the FDA on field experience with them.