Paul Dlug

At a dance I tripped on a chair, fell on my left side, and my left femur separated from my hip. Being in much pain, the local fire department took me to a nearby hospital in Long Island where I was operated on the next day for a partial hip replacement. I exited the hospital in good shape in five days and started physical therapy. Everything was going great but after five weeks I developed a staph infection that put me back in the hospital for 25 days. The prosthesis was removed, I was on intravenous antibiotics for eight weeks and spent the next eight months in a wheelchair. My eldest son of four children did some research and found on the internet that Dr. Geoffrey Westrich of Hospital for Special Surgery who did reconstructive hip surgery and advised me to go into the city to have it performed. I saw Dr. Westrich and after looking at my x-rays and with a consultation with him, he decided to take my case. I first had to be cleared by Dr. Barry Brause, the Director of Infectious Disease, who gave me many "hurdles" to clear before I could have constructive surgery. After clearing all these hurdles, I had the operation on December 29, 2010. The nurses, physical therapists, and doctors at HSS are knowledgeable and caring. I've been in physical therapy now going on six months but everyday am feeling stronger and better. Every day I thank God for surgeons like Dr. Geoffrey Westrich and doctors like Dr. Barry Brause who care about their patients and want them to lead a normal, productive life. Thank you HSS!!!