Hip Resurfacing 

by Patricia Walter

Hip resurfacing is very near and dear to my heart and hip - left hip to be exact. I am the proud owner of a BHR (Birmingham Hip Resrufacing) that I received in March 2006.

My left hip had osteoarthritis for about ten years. My activities during those ten years began to decrease until my main recreation was sitting in my comfy, recliner chair. Having a bone on bone hip joint will bring your life to a complete standstill.  Young or old, male or femal - bone on bone pain can't be ignored. The pain will be present when you walk, stand, sit and even when you try to sleep.  Sleep is impossible without pain killers as is most of your life. 

In the past there has been only one soution to replace a painful, arthritic hip, a total hip replacement or THR. A THR meant that part of your femur bone would be cut off and drilled to accept the long stem ball replacement device that is pounded into what is left of your femur bone.  Then if you ever need a revision in the future, what it left of your femur bone must be broken apart to remove the old stem.

A Hip Resurfacing with a BHR is bone conserving. The top ball of your femur bone is shaped to accept a cap that protects the femur. Then a cup is placed in your acetabulum as a bearing for the cap on your femur.  This makes a metal on metal bearing that protects the painful old hip joint.  If a revision is ever required in the future, the complete femur bone is still in place to allow a THR.

A bone conserving Hip Resurfacing is illustrated on the left and a THR on the right

Hip resurfacing, unlike the old fashioned THR's of the past, require no restrictions on your activities. There is almost no chance of dislocation.  Many athletes have had hip resurfacings and returned to the sports they love.

If you or someone you know has a painful hip that needs to be replaced, be sure to learn about Hip Resurfacing before accepting an old fashioned THR. The FDA approved Birmingham Hip Resurfacing in the US last May 2006. Over 60,000 people world wide have BHR's and many more are learning about the new proceedure. Doctors overseas have been performing hip resurfacings for almost fifteen years. Katie Ellis received her BHR in 1991 from Mr. McMinn the inventor of the BHR in the UK.

The BHR approved by the FDA in May of 2006 is quite different than the older, hemi-resurfacing of the past. Hemi-resurfacing did not place a cup in the acetabulum of the hip, it only placed a cap on the femur bone and this resulted in a metal on bone joint that often became painful and required a revision.

If you are young and active, be sure to ask your doctor about a hip resurfacing. If he/she does not seem to know about the new option, be sure to find out about doctors in your area that do hip resurfacing. There have been many active people in their late sixties and even seventies that have had hip resurfacing. Be sure to ask questions of your doctor and do research so you don't end up with an old fashioned small ball THR that will restrict your activities and increase the possiblity of a dislocation.

Good Luck in your search for a new hip.

Patricia Walter

Webmaster/owner of Surface Hippy - A Patient to Patient Guide to Hip Resurfacing