Pam LaRose Benner

After more than 40 years of living with pain caused by congenital hip dysplasia, Pam LaRose Benner takes advantage of being pain-free by using the stairs instead of the elevator and riding her stationary bike religiously. "It's the most awesome thing. In my mid-forties I started developing muscles that I should have been developing as a kid."

Pam was 13 months old when her dysplasia was diagnosed. "It could have been caught at birth," she says, "and would have been relatively easy to fix." But at little more than a year old, her second home was a hospital. Her body cast was changed about once a month; then she wore a leg brace around the clock for two years to keep her hips in their sockets.

At age 9, her left thigh came out of its hip socket. "I had my first hip surgery then," Pam says. "The surgeon made the socket deeper so the ball would stay in it." By the time she was 18, her left hip had again loosened in the socket and arthritis had set in. That time a surgeon inserted pins to keep the joint secure, which were removed after about six months. At that time, she was told she was too young for a hip replacement.

The inevitable weight gain during her pregnancy, at age 29, further stressed her hips and forced Pam to walk with a cane. Of childbirth, she says, "Labor was not good for my hips."

When her son, Matthew, was about 6 months old, Pam asked his pediatrician to evaluate a turned-in foot. The pediatrician was concerned that Matthew could have a similar problem, so he referred her to an orthopedic surgeon, who ordered X-rays for Pam, and then referred her to a surgeon in Boston for her first hip replacement. This surgeon, she recalls used wire mesh to keep the joint in place.

Surgery relieved the challenges created by Pam LaRose Benner's congenital hip dysplasia.

In the fall of 2003, the Grand Rapids, Michigan, orthopedic surgeon who performed her bunion surgery suggested that Pam seek an evaluation at Mayo Clinic. The surgeon's son, who was doing an internship there, had told the surgeon about the surgical expertise available for Pam's condition at Mayo Clinic. After her October 2003 evaluation, surgery was scheduled for March 30, 2004.

"During the entire process — X-rays, medications, surgery, post-op, physical therapy — I felt like I was part of what was going on. I didn't feel like I was a piece of meat, as I had during some previous hospitalizations. Everyone treated me with such dignity and respect. They answered all my questions. I never felt like I was out of the loop. Someone was always there to give me the information that I needed, answering questions that I didn't even think to ask. I was there about five days, and there was never ever a communication gap."

They replaced her right hip first. "That one was for the first time," she says, "so he did the 'easy' one first." Repairing the much-treated left hip, in July 2004, involved more diagnostics and a strategic approach.

"When I saw Mrs. Benner, I realized that she was going to need a redo of her left hip replacement, which was failing, and a primary right hip replacement as well," says team leader, Dr. Miguel E. Cabanela. "The left hip socket was very deficient and needed to be augmented. I thought it would be ideal to use bone from the right hip to augment the left hip socket."

The orthopedic team did the right hip first and froze the bone from the femoral head of the hip. Later, they used the bone as a graft to increase the capacity of the socket when the left hip was redone. This technique had been used before on previous patients, because the best bone graft is that done with the patient's own bone. "It worked beautifully for her," says Dr. Cabanela. "We were able to regain length in her left leg and equalize the length of her legs."

Pam talked Dr. Cabanela into letting her go home early because Matthew was graduating from high school. "I needed to plan a graduation party. My son grew up with me in pain. At just 18 years old, he's a very helpful guy."

A joyful Pam says, "If you saw my X-rays, you'd never believe I can walk straight. Mayo worked so hard with me, I felt like Number One. When I was ready to go home I felt like it was my turn to be part of the team, to take responsibility, make a commitment to follow the team's instructions, and finish the job they started. Being there and experiencing their dedication drove me to do my part."

"When I got home, I didn't know anybody who had experienced hip surgery. I was stubborn and tried to do everything myself and not ask for help. Now, I'd like to be a support person for people who've had that kind of surgery and for their families. I want to give back."