Hip Resurfacing

Hip resurfacing or 'The Birmingham Hip' is a technique designed to reline rather than replace the worn hip joint.

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A total hip replacement is the standard operation for an osteoarthritic hip. During a hip replacement the head and neck of the femur are removed. A cavity of approximately 15-20 cm long is then made in the shaft of the femur and a metal stem inserted. A cup is then placed into the socket which has been reamed to shape.







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In hip resurfacing, the hip joint is relined rather than replaced. The head and neck of the femur are preserved. The worn surfaces of the head and socket are carefully machined away with precision instruments. The joint is then lined with a metal covering for the head and socket.

The hip resurfacing implant has three key potential advantages:

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More recently short stemmed large head prostheses are being developed to try and combine the advantages of a typical hip replacement with the femoral bone preserving advantages of a resurfacing prosthesis.

Information Links:

http://www.hipresurfacing.com

https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/treatments/hip-resurfacing