Hip resurfacing is an alternative tostandard hip replacement surgeryused for the treatment of severe hip arthritis.
Hip resurfacing isnota new surgery.
Hip resurfacing surgery has been performed since the early 1970s.
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However, recent changes in hip resurfacing implant design have led to a new interest in this procedure.
Candidates
Hip resurfacing surgery is a possible consideration for patients with severehip arthritis.
Why Did Hip Resurfacing Fall out of Favor in the 1970s?
Hip resurfacing was a popular procedure several decades ago.
The implants used at that time were made of metal and plastic.
Unfortunately, these implants had significant problems and often failed in the first several years following surgery.
These patients often required additional surgery, even within a short time following their initial hip resurfacing.
What Led to the Recent Increase in Hip Resurfacing Surgeries?
In the 1990s, new hip resurfacing implant designs were introduced.
The hip resurfacing implants are now made entirely of metal, with two separate pieces.
Some surgeons have advocated hip resurfacing implants because of several potential advantages.
Maintenance of Normal Bone
Hip resurfacing surgery removes less bone than a standard hip replacement.
In a standard hip replacement, the entire ball of the ball-and-socket hip joint is removed.
This problem is called “stress shielding,” and is seen less commonly in hip resurfacing.
Especially in younger, more active patients, dislocation can be a significant risk of hip replacement surgery.
Every time a revision procedure is performed, a larger surgery and larger implant must be used.
Other factors may sway patients away from considering a hip resurfacing procedure.
These factors include:
Hip resurfacing surgery is performed through an incision similar to a standard hip replacement.
A metal cap is then placed on the ball, and a metal socket is placed in the pelvis.
Therefore, no one can definitively say that this surgery is better or worse than a standard hip replacement.
During the first year after surgery, all impact activities and heavy lifting must be avoided.
This is the time frame when the bone holding the implant is most susceptible to fracture.
Will You Need More Surgery at a Later Date?
It is not known how long on average hip resurfacing implants will last.
With better-designed implants, they seem to be functioning well at the 10-year mark.
However, that is still not as good as what is known about standard hip replacements.
The usual procedure is to convert the worn out hip resurfacing implant to a standard hip replacement.
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