Articles

Saint Francis Orthopedic Surgeons First in San Francisco to Perform Minimally Invasive Hip Replacements

January, 2003

San Francsico, CA – Thomas G. Sampson, MD, is the first San Francisco orthopedic surgeon and joint specialist to perform the new mini-incision total hip replacement surgery. He is now followed by Victor Prieto, MD. Both specialists at the Total Joint Center at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital. Developed in Warsaw, Indiana, by Zimmer, Inc., this minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for hip replacement was first performed in February 2002. MIS techniques are used with clinically proven implants and can shorten recovery times, reduce length of stay in the hospital and result in much smaller scars (3-4 inches versus the standard incision of 12-16 inches).

The instruments used in MIS have been improved and modified to enable surgeons to properly align and place the implants though a much smaller incision. This smaller incision also helps to minimize blood loss. “This new technology results in a less traumatic procedure with a quicker return to active lifestyle,” says Dr. Sampson. “All of our total hip replacements are now done with the MIS procedures at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital. On average the patients go home within 3-4 days post surgery. These outcomes are very impressive.”

About Saint Francis Memorial Hospital:
Saint Francis Memorial Hospital was founded by a group of dedicated physicians in 1905 and is a member of Catholic Healthcare West, the largest not-for-profit heath care provider in California. Saint Francis is fully accredited and serves the City’s most diverse neighborhoods, with service areas of excellence in emergency services, spine and joint medicine, sports medicine and acute medical/surgical adult care.