Hip Resurfacing

Hip resurfacing is a significantly different technique to hip replacement. Here the head of the femur is shaved and a metal cap is attached which covers its surface.

In traditional hip replacement the head of the femur is cut off and a long, metal stem inserted into the bone. An artificial head is then attached to the stem.

In both techniques a metal cup is placed into the pelvis.

Advantages

• Much less bone needs to be removed
• Because the cap and the cup are of similar size to the originals there is thought to be significantly less risk of dislocation.
• If revision work is needed there is substantially more bone stock to work with.
• The patient will usually be able to live a full and active life. Even participating in marathons or Iron Man type events.

• The technique is only suitable for younger patients and those with good bone stock
• Due to post-menopausal related bone loss, older woman are not usually offered this form of surgery
• The side-effects of chromium and cobalt ions released (due to friction in the new metal joint) are currently unknown. Some experts fear that they may not only damage nearby tissue and bone but may also affect other organs of the body.
• There has been a higher than anticipated need for revision surgery. The three year revision rate (which is an agreed measure of the failure of a new joint) is four times higher with resurfacing than with replacements and for older woman it can be as much as 10 times higher.

• Approximately 5,000 resurfacing operations are performed annually in the UK.
• The experience of the consultant is one of the most important factors in predicting outcome
• The technique was first performed in Birmingham in 1977 and so is often referred to as Birmingham Hip Resurfacing or BHR.