Jun 22, 2009 6:45 pm US/Central
Girl's Cancer Treatment Damages Her Hip Joints
ROCHESTER, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Pointing to X-rays of the titanium implants inserted into both thigh bones and hip sockets Mayo Clinic Orthopedic Reconstructive Surgeon Robert Trousdale explained what went into rebuilding Kendall Rose's hips.
CBS
Parents dread the thought of ever hearing, "Your child has cancer." Now imagine the stress of choosing a cure that may leave your child dependent on a wheelchair.
At age 10, Kendall Rose was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
"It was shocking and heartbreaking and all of those things wrapped into one," said Kendall's mother, Suzy Rose.
Kendall endured two years and four months of chemotherapy and steroid treatments and beat her leukemia.
However, the steroids took another toll, destroying Kendall's hip joints by damaging the blood supply to the ball at the top of the femur, or thigh bone. The condition is called avascular necrosis.
X-rays showed dying bone crumbling, unable to support the pressure of standing. Every step Kendall took on the fractured bone caused horrendous pain. The athletic girl, who once played soccer and enjoyed dance class, relied on crutches and struggled to walk a city block.
Kendall had conquered cancer, but was left essentially crippled.
"It was really frustrating," she said. "Because, I thought I would be done [with medical treatments] but then [the hip condition developed] and it was really frustrating."
Mayo Clinic Orthopedic Reconstructive Surgeon Robert Trousdale said the only solution when the disease progresses so far, is total hip replacement.
Pointing to X-rays of the titanium implants inserted into both thigh bones and hip sockets he explained what went into rebuilding Kendall's hips. He also commented on the choice of ceramic contact surfaces which might offer the longest joint life possible.
That's the issue with young patients. How long will the replacement parts last?
"The 9- to 10-year results are fantastic," Trousdale said. "So, we really can't tell patients what the 20-, 25-, 30-year results will be with these materials because the materials are relatively new."
Suzy says the decision of having Kendall go through hip replacement at such a young age became much easier when Trousdale asked one question: "When do you want quality of life for her … now or when she's 80?"
Now, watching Kendall glide through the water while swimming laps at age 15, one is witnessing triumph in motion.
"I just think of how far I've come, from the pain to what I can do now. Kind of amazing if you think about it," Kendall said with a smile.
Trousdale said the decision about joint replacement is weighted by whether a child is still growing. He also said mobility is not the only thing at stake for a young person whose social growth also depends on their ability to be keeping up with their friends and peers.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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