Hip Resurfacing Information

Hip resurfacing is a surgical procedure in which the worn ball and socket joint of a painful hip can be replaced. This operation is sometimes used instead of traditional hip replacements because it allows more of the original hip bone to stay intact.

Contraindications

• Hip resurfacing is not an option for people with osteoporosis or other issues that cause bone thinning and weakness.

Time Frame

• Because the parts used in hip resurfacing are plastic and metal, friction between the two parts may necessitate replacement in 15 years. Hip resurfacing implants can last less than 15 years if a patient is very active.

Age

• Because it leaves more hip bone intact, hip resurfacing can withstand physical activity better than traditional hip replacement. This makes hip resurfacing ideal for people who experience hip problems in their 40s or 50s.

Skill

• Hip resurfacing is a more difficult procedure than hip replacement and requires a surgeon who has been trained specifically in hip resurfacing procedures.

Approval

• Hip resurfacing was at first unsuccessful with the technology available in the 1970's, but it was later perfected in Britain, and gained United States FDA approval in 2006.