Eugene Sullivan, 72, likes to sweat. The retired police officer from Oceanside, NY, is a hot yoga fan. “I like getting into the hot room and stretching,” he said. “My wife and I have been doing it for about six years and we really enjoy it.”

Fitness has been key to recovering from past heart troubles for Eugene. He’s a gym regular, too, and walks his American bulldog, Brandy, daily—the only part of his pre-pandemic routine that’s remained unchanged. In fact, it was on a walk with Brandy a few months ago that he felt a sharp pain in his groin.

“I thought I just pulled a muscle; I really do stay active,” he explained. “But when the pain didn’t go away for a week, I went to see the doctor. He told me I needed a hip replacement. I was shocked.”

After seeing a couple of orthopedists and weighing the idea of medication treatment instead of surgery, Eugene opted for a total hip replacement through the new 23-hour discharge ambulatory program at North Shore University Hospital. Jonathan Danoff, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at the hospital, explained to him that normal wear and tear caused arthritis in the joint, and was the reason for his pain.

One-day hip replacement isn’t for everyone, but it can be a boon for the right candidate. “When considering how to best handle a procedure like this, you have to look beyond a patient’s age,” Dr. Danoff said. “We consider the patient’s motivations, activity level and how functional they are. Mr. Sullivan is young at heart and very motivated to do well, which told me that this kind of rapid-recovery protocol would work well for him.”

After the surgery, Eugene began walking within three hours with the assistance of a cane. Nurses monitored him as the anesthesia wore off and gave him information about Force Therapeutics, the virtual physical therapy program he would follow at home.

“Dr. Danoff has one of the greatest personalities out there,” Eugene said. “He has a way about him that calms everyone down. He replaced my hip, stopped by to see how I was doing and then followed up with me at home as I was doing my physical therapy. It all went very well.”

Eugene began walking without a cane within a day of coming home.

Within a few weeks, he was back walking Brandy half a mile a day. Now he is pain-free and, two months post-surgery, up to a mile each day. With the reopening of his favorite hot yoga studio, he’s looking forward to returning to class one day soon, too.

“For people who are otherwise healthy, it’s preferable to avoid time as an inpatient after surgery,” Dr. Danoff said. “Most people who require joint replacement do not need to be in the hospital, even if they are older. They can
successfully and quite quickly recuperate within the comfort of their own home.”

Recovery was straightforward for Eugene. “I didn’t have a problem with anything,” he said. “Dr. Danoff made me feel really comfortable throughout the entire process. He made sure every question was answered and that I had everything I needed to recover at home. Today, I have to say, I really feel great.”