Hip
Resurfacing
Hip resurfacing
has recently become more popular in Europe and the US. It
differs from a standard hip replacement in a few important
ways. In both procedures, a metal shell is placed into the
pelvis to serve as a new socket for the joint. In a
standard hip replacement, the femoral head, or ball part of
the joint, is completely removed. It is replaced with a new
metal ball and stem which goes down the thigh bone. In a
resurfaced hip, the femoral head is retained, and a hollow
ball is cemented onto it. The procedure retains more bone
and the new prosthesis is much closer in size to the true
femoral head.
Hip resurfacing
should, in theory, have better range of motion and have
less chance of dislocating. There are, however, a number of
possible downsides to resurfacing. Because the surgery is
more difficult, a much larger incision and muscle
dissection has to be performed to get access to the joint.
This may result in more weakness after the surgery than a
standard hip replacement. There is a higher risk of femur
fracture after resurfacing because the part is placed on a
weaker part of the femur. A broken femur after resurfacing
is a difficult problem and usually requires converting it
to a full hip replacement. Lastly, because the ball
component is cemented on, it may not last as long as a
standard uncemented hip replacement. While we are still
trying to determine exactly which patients are the best
candidates for resurfacing, it remains a promising
procedure for young patients with severe hip disease. We
are currently approved to do the Birmingham hip
resurfacing. If you are interested in this procedure, feel
free to contact us for more information. You might also
want to see the Birmingham web site at
www.birminghamhipresurfacing.com. 
