HIP RESURFACING VERSUS TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT

Hip Resurfacing or Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) is a bone-conserving implant. BHR procedure removes only the unhealthy bone and replaces it with a metal on metal articulation. The femoral head remains viable after hip resurfacing surgery and the normal bone of the hip is preserved. In conventional Total Hip Replacement (THR), on the other hand, a long metal component is fixed into the femur (thigh bone) which articulates with a polyethylene cup cemented into the pelvis. It also sacrifices a large quantity of normal bone. For younger patients concerned with the potential of multiple revision surgeries over their lifetimes, saving natural bone is especially important.

BHR uses metal on metal hip joints which have been shown to be significantly more wear resistant than the traditional metal on plastic hip joints used in total hip replacement surgery.

The femoral head in BHR closely matches the size of natural femoral head and is substantially larger than the femoral head of a total hip replacement. This leads to greater stability in the new joint, which decreases the chance of dislocation of the implant after surgery. BHR patients can indulge in full sporting activities without the risk of dislocation. However, in THR the range of movement is restricted as the risk of dislocation is higher.

In BHR, preservation of bone stock at the time of operation and less stress shielding makes it easy to revise the surgery, if needed. Whereas, by its very nature, revision surgeries in THR are difficult.

The long metal component used in THT may cause alteration in the leg length which is not the case in BHR.

Rehabilitation is much faster in BHR than in THR.

BHR can be done by a minimally invasive approach and the invasion can be kept to less than 10cms. The operation also involves minimal damage to bone.