Benefits of Hip Resurfacing
There are many benefits to hip resurfacing for the younger active adult.
Minimal Bone Loss
Hip resurfacing is a bone conserving procedure in which the femoral neck is left intact and the femoral head is resurfaced rather than replaced. This is beneficial to the patient for two reasons: one, it more closely matches the geometry of the hip, which alleviates concerns about leg length discrepancies; and two, if a second hip surgery is needed in the future, this makes for a much easier procedure. You can always convert to a total hip replacement from a surface replacement, but you can never convert to hip resurfacing from a total hip replacement.
Conventional total hip vs. BHR -- Conserving bone in the femur can reduce stress on the bone.
Large Head and Cup: Greater Range of Motion
The hip resurfacing implant has a larger head and cup than most traditional hip replacement implants. This allows for an increased range of motion and a decreased risk of hip dislocation.
Less Thigh Pain and Quicker Recovery
The stem on a traditional hip replacement goes down the femur, whereas the hip resurfacing has a much shorter stem down the femoral neck. This decreases thigh pain felt after traditional hip replacement surgery, thereby enabling quicker rehabilitation.
Advanced Implant Materials
The implant head and the cup are both made of cobalt chrome. This metal on metal component decreases wear on the implanted joint and reduces particulate debris.
Overall, hip resurfacing allows for greater range of motion, a more active lifestyle and a quicker recovery. 
Back to top