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Madras Joint Replacement center (MJRC) performs Hip Resurfacing & replacement surgery.

  Do you need a hip resurfacing procedure?

If you are young or middle aged and suffer from hip arthritis you may prefer a hip resurfacing to replacement. In this modern alternative to THR only the worn out surfaces of the hip joint are replaced.

What is a hip resurfacing ?

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 total hip replacement after resurfacing is easy as femoral bone is preserved.

The surface components are made of metal.  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. It is not advised in advanced bone loss, altered anatomy, limb length discrepancy, women of child bearing age, kidney disease, metal allergy. Patients younger than 55 to 60 years are the ideal candidates. In  males up to 65 years it may be an option if bone density and quality are normal. It is not recommended in women of child bearing age & over 55 years.

When done for the right age and indication, hip resurfacing offers significant advantages over hip replacement in terms of reduced dislocation, longevity and increased movements. According to the NICE study, hip resurfacing is the procedure of choice for hip arthritis in patients younger than 65 years.
 

Total & Short stem Hip replacements

Total hip replacement is the tested and proved operation in elderly patients over 70. THR 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 of the hip. Short stem replacements are bone preserving implants. They provide fixation in the upper part of the femur without entering the shaft of the femur. We offer conventional total hip replacement, short stem Proxima hip & METHA hip replacement. Revision hip surgery with standard and advanced reconstruction prostheses is performed routinely. Revision to a THR after a failed hip resurfacing is comparatively easy.

Implants used - Birmingham hip resurfacing (BHR), Birmingham mid head resection (BMHR), THR with metal on metal, ceramic on poly ethylene, Proxima,  METHA & Silent hip replacement.

Advantages of hip resurfacing surgery are

• Suitable for young patients
• Long lasting
• Minimally invasive to bone
• Cost effective
• Faster recovery vs THR.
• Easier to revise to THR as bone is preserved
• Allows normal range of movement
• Least incidence of dislocation
• Least incidence of loosening as plastic is not used

Life after Hip resurfacing / replacement

A Hip resurfacing operation rapidly fixes hip pain and allows return of full mobility. There are no restrictions on activities and many patients have returned to sports. Resurfacing hip surgery is less traumatic than traditional total hip replacement. Risks after hip resurfacing are similar to those for a total hip replacement.