Getting Back on the Horse after Bilateral Hip Replacement

Sandra Pulliam, a 61 year old Georgia native, grew up with a love for animals. She began riding horses when she was only two years old and fell in love with the sport. Sandra was lucky to turn her passion into her career as an equestrian trainer. She taught and rode for years while raising her family in Fayetteville.

Unfortunately years of riding took a toll on her body and she started experiencing radiating pain that was debilitating for her as a rider. Sandra visited Resurgens Orthopaedics where she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips. "I was scared." she explained "I was in a lot of pain, but surgery could mean the end of my career."

Determined to avoid surgery, Sandra and Spencer, Dr. Claps' Physician Assistant, worked together to try and remedy the pain using conservative treatments. "After months of trying, I could tell my pain wasn't getting any better." Sandra's daughter, a nurse, encouraged her to revisit the idea of surgery as an option.

"Dr. Claps was amazing. He put me at ease and spoke with me in-depth about what to expect. Few doctors will spend that much time with you."

Dr. Claps, a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, specializes in anterior approach total hip replacements. This approach provides good options for surgeons trained in this technique to safely and effectively perform a rapid recovery hip replacement. Most patients who receive an anterior approach replacement have a quicker recovery with less pain compared to more traditional methods. The rate of dislocation is also lower with an anterior approach surgery as it allows no specific restrictions to be placed on hip motion after surgery.

In Sandra's case, the osteoarthritis was severe in both hips. Dr. Claps recommended she have a bilateral hip replacement, meaning that he would replace both hips during one surgery.

On the day of the surgery, Sandra recalled still being afraid. Despite her fear, she felt like she was making the right decision for her health.

Sandra Pulliam, a 61 year old Georgia native, grew up with a love for animals. She began riding horses when she was only two years old and fell in love with the sport. Sandra was lucky to turn her passion into her career as an equestrian trainer. She taught and rode for years while raising her family in Fayetteville.  

The day after surgery Sandra was picked up from the hospital and was already on track for a quick recovery. Dr. Claps and Sandra worked on a post-operative plan to help her gain strength back to help her get back to what she loved.

Sandra was back to riding horses within a couple of months after surgery. Sandra explained that Dr. Claps not only gave her mobility but gave her the ability to continue her passion.

Dr. Claps, Spencer, and all the staff at Resurgens are proud that they were able to help Sandra return to her horses after her hip replacement!