If you are suffering from hip arthritis you may prefer a hip resurfacing to a hip replacement. In this modern alternative to hip replacement, only the worn out surfaces of the hip joint are replaced.

Hip Resurfacing is a bone preserving operation as most of the head and neck portion of the top end of the femur bone is retained. The head and neck portion of the femur bone is sculpted to a cylindrical stump and not chopped off. A metal ball like cap is fixed with cement over this cylindrical stump. On the socket side also, the worn out lining is scraped out and a metal implant or shell is impacted. Conversion to a hip replacement after resurfacing is easy as most bone is preserved.

The surface components are made of metal, either Metasul or Cobalt chrome. The outer side of the socket is lined with either a porous metal or hydroxyapatite coating. The components match the normal size of the natural bone and are of larger

Hip Resurfacing Operation	Video compares THR & hip resurfacing

diameter than the components of a total hip replacement. The lining surfaces are highly polished to give a low friction finish thus leading to reduced wear.
Several companies have introduced resurfacing devices. The Birmingham hip replacement (BHR) has the longest clinical follow up of over a decade today.

Hip resurfacing is intended to produce pain relief in young and middle aged active patients with hip arthrosis or arthritis. It is not advocated when there is advanced bone loss or extensive cavities in the head of femur. Patients younger than 55 to 60 years are the ideal candidates. It could also be considered in active males up to 65 years after due consideration is given to bone density and quality. It is not recommended in females of child bearing age & over 55 years as the risk of complications increases. A hip resurfacing offers significant advantages over hip replacement in this selected group of patients. According to the NICE study, hip resurfacing is the procedure of choice for hip arthritis in patients younger than 65 years.

Total hip replacement is the tested and proved operation for hip arthritis in elderly patients over 70 years of age. A total hip replacement is also the preferred treatment for femoral neck fracture in this age group. THR is advised as the golden standard for hip arthritis in patients older than 65 years, advanced hip destruction, altered anatomy in the upper femur. We offer primary total hip replacement, short stem Proxima hip or Nannos hip as the implant of choice for hip replacement where bone stock is preserved. Revision hip surgery with standard and advanced reconstruction prostheses is done for patients who have developed infection, loosening, bone loss and failed primary THR. Revision to a THR after a failed hip resurfacing is comparatively easy.

Implants used at our centre - Birmingham hip resurfacing (BHR), Birmingham mid head resection (BMHR), Metal on metal total hip replacement, metal on metal or ceramic on metal bearings with short stem hip replacements ( Proxima, Nannos, METHA)