The world’s longest-lasting set of hip replacements
Norman Sharp, a 91-year-old from England, has been recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as possessing the world’s longest-lasting set of hip replacements.
Mr Sharp was just 23 when he underwent the then-ground breaking procedure, and the 67-year-old hips have remained in place ever since without any revisions.
Mr Sharp's hips are made of an alloy called vitallium, and were implanted by orthopaedic surgeon Philip Newman, in what many consider to be the first procedure of its kind.
“It was a brand spanking new job. I was the first patient of Mr Newman to get these and he had the courage to try them out on me,” Mr Sharp told the Wiltshire Times.
“A lot of the other doctors were critical of him. I’m thrilled to think I was part of that initial pioneering work. To think other people have benefitted from the experience they gained from working on me. I’m thrilled to pieces that I have been part of it and am so grateful to the doctors for having the courage to go ahead.”
Mr Sharp’s hips have been described “as a testament to the skill of surgeon and the standard of engineering at the time”.
“It’s not what I’ve achieved, it’s what the RNOH has achieved and, in particular, what Mr Newman achieved to give me these hips that have lasted all these years," Mr Sharp added.
"It’s amazing now, as some of the modern hips now only last 10-15 years. I was just lucky perhaps. I rode motorbikes and went dancing – I made good use of them.”
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