Active Mother-Daughter Duo Gets Matching Hip Replacements
After meeting John Andrawis, MD, during an emergency department visit, Harriet Elmajian and her daughter, Nancy Keating, are both back on their feet after remarkable recoveries.
When Harriet Elmajian, 88, was treated at the Torrance Memorial Medical Center emergency department in August 2024 after experiencing a fall at her daughter’s home, her diagnosis wasn’t what she hoped for.
“I was preparing to move, and my house was being painted, so I was staying with my daughter,” says Harriet. “When I was sorting through some of my things, I suddenly felt dizzy and tipped over.”
The first unwelcome piece of news came when an MRI revealed that Harriet had broken her hip. Then she was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI), which may have been responsible for the bout of dizziness that caused her to collapse.
However, shortly after learning she needed a hip replacement, Harriet and her daughter, Nancy Keating, age 63—who was with her at the hospital—had some unexpected good luck.
“Nancy and I called my son, who is a doctor in Louisiana, and told him what happened,” says Harriet. “I needed a hip doctor, so my son did some research. He told me Torrance Memorial Physician Network orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Andrawis was one of the top hip replacement specialists in the area. Dr. Andrawis was the one we wanted, and he ended up being my surgeon.”
Harriet had surgery the next day. She spent five days in the hospital recovering from her surgery and UTI and spent one night in rehab before being discharged to her home.
“I had help for a week after I came home and felt tired, but I was able to move around normally soon after my surgery,” says Harriet. “After three weeks I was playing bridge, and after three months I was back to my normal activities.”
A Piece of Good Fortune
Despite the stressful circumstances surrounding her mother’s emergency hip surgery, Nancy also found herself thankful she had met Dr. Andrawis—an orthopedic surgeon who is a fellow of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.
An avid skier, runner and pickleball player, Nancy had been dealing with nagging hip discomfort for some time. “Every now and then, I’d notice little signs something wasn’t right,” she says. “I’d feel my hip catch, but the discomfort would go away.”
Nancy didn’t think much of it until one day in June 2023—after doing her normal workout and playing pickleball—she couldn’t walk. When rest and at-home care didn’t help, she went to the doctor and learned that she had bone-on-bone arthritis.
Two cortisone shots got Nancy through the ski season, but the second shot failed to provide the pain relief she needed. By the time her mom was hospitalized in August 2024, Nancy she was ready for a hip replacement of her own.
“I scheduled an office visit with Dr. Andrawis a few weeks after my mom’s surgery and had my hip replacement in October 2024,” says Nancy of her outpatient hip replacement, which enabled her to return home the same day. That evening, she was up and walking around—using a walker and even going up the stairs. Within six days, she switched to a cane.
“Three weeks after surgery, I’m back to walking, driving and grocery shopping,” she says. “I’m also committed to my physical therapy and hope to recover in time for ski season.”
Nancy Keating (left) and her mom, Harriett Elmajian, both underwent hip replacement surgery within two months of each other last fall.
Personalized, Innovative Approaches Deliver Outstanding Results
There’s no doubt that despite their different injuries and circumstances, Harriet and Nancy both made remarkable recoveries after their hip replacements. The key, according to Dr. Andrawis, is a personalized approach backed by an experienced team and the most advanced techniques and technology.
“A skilled orthopedic surgeon can perform a hip replacement using any approach, but there are different advantages and disadvantages to
each,” says Dr. Andrawis. “I used a minimally invasive, muscle-sparing technique called the direct anterior approach for Nancy and Harriet, which may help patients recover faster and more easily—but it isn’t the right choice for everyone.”
He says that at Torrance Memorial, he and his patients have access to some of the most advanced hip replacement technology.
“We use robotic-assisted and computer-aided technology to ensure we are approaching the hip, sizing the implant and placing the joint in the most precise way,” says Dr. Andrawis, who used computer-assisted navigation for Nancy's and Harriet’s procedures. “We even have 3D printing capabilities, so we can customize implants to fit people with complex anatomy—including those with abnormalities, severe trauma or a history of previous hip surgery.”
To improve the patient experience and enhance safety, Dr. Andrawis says, his team uses specialized anesthesia that reduces post-operative pain, decreases blood loss, reduces the risk of blood clots and promotes faster mobilization. He also offers joint components that reduce the risk of fracture and, if needed, can improve flexibility and range of motion for athletes.
Two Remarkable Recoveries
Today Harriet is settled in her new apartment, where she enjoys spending time with friends. Nancy is patiently progressing through her recovery with her sights set on ski season. And although they are at different ages and stages of life, this active mother-daughter duo is enjoying life with their new hips.
“My mom did great and recovered well—it was remarkable for her age,” says Nancy. “We’re both very happy with the care we received from Dr. Andrawis, and we definitely ended up with the right doctor.”
John Andrawis, MD, practices at Torrance Memorial Physician Network Orthopedics at 23550 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 120, Torrance. He can be reached at 310-517-1216.
