Whitehorse Daily Star

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First total hip replacement accomplished in Yukon

Yukon Hospitals’ orthopaedic care team completed the territory’s first-ever total hip replacement surgery Monday at Whitehorse General Hospital.

By Whitehorse Star on November 30, 2021

Yukon Hospitals’ orthopaedic care team completed the territory’s first-ever total hip replacement surgery Monday at Whitehorse General Hospital.

According to a news release issued today, the procedure marks an important milestone for the orthopaedic program, which has steadily expanded its scope of services for Yukoners in the last several years.

“Our team has been working hard to develop the Yukon’s first total hip replacement program,” said Dr. Scott Westberg, who helped complete Monday’s operation.

“Hip replacement surgery is essential to any community orthopaedic practice and we’re excited to be part of this monumental step in local orthopaedic care.

“Providing this procedure in-territory means an improved patient experience with shorter wait times and care closer to home for Yukoners.”

Yukon Hospitals’ vision for the orthopaedic program is to provide comprehensive elective joint (knee and hip) replacement surgeries and emergency orthopaedic care, while also minimizing travel and wait times.

In just the last four years, nearly 500 urgent orthopaedic cases have been cared for in Whitehorse. That means fewer medevac trips south for patients and families, improved continuity of care and an overall better patient experience.

As the need for orthopaedic care increases with the Yukon’s aging population, expanding access closer to home also helps keep wait times low for hip and knee replacement surgeries, and decreases the need for visiting specialists from out of territory.

“Along with tremendous support from our surgical services and OR staff, we’re proud to partner with physicians and the Government of Yukon to strengthen and expand this vital service for Yukoners,” said Al Lucier, who chairs the Yukon Hospital Corp.

“Now, more patients can access these procedures and recover right here in the Yukon, and I’m confident the team will continue to deliver safe and excellent orthopaedic care for many years to come.”

Comments (12)

Up 0 Down 0

Chuck Farley on Dec 6, 2021 at 3:55 pm

Great news; it is good news and long time coming, as to your observation on the anti what ever you identified; stay tuned; as we have very cold temps the Saturday afternoon (insert cause) Second Ave group will have plenty to say lol

Up 7 Down 1

From the hip on Dec 3, 2021 at 3:57 pm

So does this mean kidney dialysis is on the distant horizon?

Up 11 Down 0

Good Stuff on Dec 1, 2021 at 8:39 pm

Great news for the territory. I'd say we are heading in the right direction despite all the hiccups in healthcare.

Up 15 Down 8

Wilf Carter on Dec 1, 2021 at 11:45 am

I had mine done in Richmond Hospital got infection in it. Scott had to take it out here and clean the hip out, took out the steel parts but replaced the shells. Can't say enough about Donna, nurses and home care people. They put a pick in my arm and down into my chest for 6 weeks to get meds into me every day at home. Did have to stay in hospital for 6 weeks. Hospital health care is in a mess and liberal supporters want Tracy McPhee out because she is messing it up so badly.

Up 22 Down 2

Still limping on Dec 1, 2021 at 10:34 am

Don’t hold your breath.
I was told in July at the Whitehorse General hospital by a surgeon up from Vancouver that I needed a new hip badly. I then waited for three months and finally got a call from Vancouver telling me to fly out (at my expense) for another consult that would take half an hour, to complete further personal info for a possible surgery.
When I asked when approximately I could get the surgery, I was told well... maybe in a year to a year and a half!
I’ll believe it when I see it that Whitehorse, will do anything but emergency operations at the Whitehorse General in the near future.
Unless you want to pop opioid pills for pain for the next year and a half, re-mortgage your house and book an appointment at a private clinic.

Up 20 Down 5

jack on Dec 1, 2021 at 1:32 am

The Yukon should be doing more of these kind of sophisticated procedures up north. Why not make a center of excellence here and process patients coming from the south where capacity is limited?

Up 17 Down 5

Replaced down south on Nov 30, 2021 at 7:59 pm

Had mine down south, couldn't have been better!
Good luck on this procedure at WGH with staff shortages and fly in fly out doc. Hmmmmmmm…..

Up 25 Down 12

bonanzajoe on Nov 30, 2021 at 7:29 pm

Great news! Now waiting for Liberal full brain replacements.

Up 23 Down 9

Sheepchaser on Nov 30, 2021 at 5:26 pm

Sadly, our new Minister of Health is completely unqualified to manage this file. Not looking forward to a lawyer counting the dollar value on the lives of citizens. They put McPhee in there to rubber stamp further lockdowns measures, not advance the health of Yukoners. Expect Yukon Healthcare to adopt the same ‘what are you going to do about it’ attitude of the Minister’s previous files. Vote of non-confidence and all.

Please, please retire. It’s just embarrassing now.

Up 60 Down 6

don bernier on Nov 30, 2021 at 2:43 pm

i think that is best news that I've heard in years & been here since 1963 so what's it worth, keep up good work. Again thanks, Don.

Up 61 Down 11

Anie on Nov 30, 2021 at 2:42 pm

Great to find a good news story. Hip replacement patients previously had to travel to the (horrible ) Burnaby General for surgery and then endure a very uncomfortable plane trip home just a couple of days later. If they were lucky enough to have a doctor certify that they needed a helper (imagine getting from hospital to airport and then on plane with your walker, luggage etc 2 days after surgery without help) then that lucky helper received $75/day for hotel, meals, transportation, everything. Thank god future hip replacement patients won't be exposed to medical travel. Their staff are heartless and every medical trip we ever made we encountered clerical errors - somehow multiplying $75 by number of days was a challenge.

Up 48 Down 29

Great news on Nov 30, 2021 at 2:09 pm

Great news for the Yukon. WGH is getting closer to being self-sufficient in terms of medical procedures. Now I can’t wait for the antivaxxer/anti science/anti orthopaedic groups have to recommend against this because hip replacement is political.

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