I am humbled once again by the great support I receive from you, my patients, through your online ratings and reviews. Your consistently favorable testimonies have contributed to my recognition with some notable honors and awards from various organizations, culminating in my being named to the top 1% of America's Most Honored Professionals. One ratings site in particular, RateMDs.com, has named  me one of the "Top Ten Orthopedic Surgeons in the World." You can read about the awards in this short news release on my website. And the numbers are out for the State of Florida - in 2015 I performed more total hip replacements than any other surgeon in Collier County. Hip hip hooray!

Warm regards,
Robert J. Zehr, M.D.
Is it really a hip fracture?

In order to explain what causes a hip fracture, it is necessary to have some understanding of the anatomy of the hip. The hip is a large structure of bone that forms a ball-and-socket joint. The buttock and thigh muscles as well as cartilage support the hip. One key element of the hip that is important to understand is how blood is supplied to it. Blood flows through the neck of the femur (thighbone). If for any reason, blood flow to the hip is stopped as a result of damage; there is no alternative blood supply to that area. If a hip should fracture and cause the blood to stop flowing to the hip, the bone will die. This is one of the complications of a hip fracture.

Regarding hip fractures, the first thing the doctor has to do is determine if the hip has truly been fractured. The diagnosis is not always as simple as one might think. Typically, x-rays are used to determine a hip fracture. Occasionally, x-rays do not show the fracture and an MRI is necessary to make small fractures visible so the doctor can make the proper diagnosis. On a rare occasion, a hip fracture may be treated without surgery. However, only if the doctor is of the opinion that the patient will be able to get out of bed in a few days, as long bed stays can be riskier than the possible complications from surgery.

Hip fractures occur for a number of reasons. Naturally, the elderly are most susceptible to hip fractures as a result of their frailness and as a result of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis weakens the bones that make up the hip leaving those with this condition in danger of a hip fracture. Another cause of hip fractures is falls. All it takes is for an elderly person to lose their balance and fall. However, an elderly person with osteoporosis may even fall as a result of the weakened bone in the hip breaking first, actually causing the fall.

It is very important to determine if pain in the hip after an injury or fall is a fractured hip or just pain from the injury or fall. If the patient is allowed to put weight on the legs, it may cause the fracture to displace (move apart) and no longer line up correctly. A displaced fracture significantly increases the risk that damage can occur to the hip's blood supply causing even further complications in treating the fractured hip.

John's due diligence gets results
"I am 59 years old...my right hip had been failing for quite a while and was really affecting many aspects of my life. Being a due diligence person I did extensive research selecting the right physician for my surgery.

"All indicators led me to Dr. Zehr and the anterior approach method that he uses for hip replacements. I have no regrets with my decision.

"Within one week there was great progress and I was walking with no walker or cane. Even the therapist was impressed and agreed that the anterior approach is really the best method for hip surgery.

"Many thanks to Dr. Zehr and his wonderful staff for all of their efforts on my behalf."

-John Wolski

Our website is full of testimonies like John's - patients who are living pain-free lives. You can read them here. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send us photos and stories for our office "Wall of Fame." We invite you to share your success story too, just hit "Reply!"

News you can use

In our May newsletter we asked the question of whether you should take NSAIDs before exercising. The answer may surprise you!

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