Total Hip Resurfacing

As leaders in the field of joint replacement surgery, we evaluate, introduce, and closely follow the results of technological advances.  One such recent development has been Dr. John Barrington's introduction of "total hip resurfacing."  In total hip resurfacing, the damaged portions of an arthritic hip joint are shaved away and capped with new joint surfaces.

The advantages of this type of replacement are:

  • It spares more of the patient’s own bone.
  • It has a low risk of dislocation
  • It has a natural feel.
  • Studies show many patients feel capable of return to a higher level of activity.

Drawbacks include:

  • Sparing the thin bone at the top of the femur means a patient can still have a hip fracture like a person without a replaced hip, so hip resurfacing should only be done in people with very strong bone
  • The procedure requires a longer incision and slower recovery than the typical minimally invasive hip replacement.
  • Because the procedure has only recently approved in this country, we do not know for sure that long-term results will be as successful as those of traditional total hip replacement.

Are you a young (40-65 years) patient with severe hip arthritis?  Come and talk to Dr. Barrington about the option of total hip resurfacing.