Most of us have two shoulders, two knees, two hips, etc… What happens when an arthritic process or another disorder affects both sides, at different times — and a procedure performed on the first side went well and the patient states it’s “perfect”. Great–right?!? Of course.. we all strive for perfection, or at least I hope you do… and it makes my day when patients come in to the office to share the fact that they are extremely pleased with their surgical— or non-surgical results.
But…
What happens when the same process now affects the other side… and you are facing a surgical reconstruction of that side?
The bar is set pretty high! The margin for success, pretty low — the realities of medicine/surgery.
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Interesting to consider, and you’re right. It sets a nearly impossibly high bar. Hope they go well! I face bilateral wrist surgery for RA – either fusions or replacements, with fusions being recommended. But c’mon – bilateral fusions?! I’m putting if off as long as possible.