| Hip resurfacing is an alternative to standard hip | | | | cartilage is in relatively good condition. In other words, |
| replacement surgery used for the treatment of | | | | the hip is not yet arthritic. Therefore, the acetabulum |
| severe hip arthritis. Hip resurfacing is not a new | | | | is not replaced. There are several hemi-resurfacing |
| surgery. However, recent changes in hip resurfacing | | | | devices that are commercially available (i.e., FDA |
| implant design have led to a new interest in this | | | | approved). |
| procedure. | | | | Metal-metal hip resurfacing, on the other hand, is |
| Why Have Hip Resurfacing Surgery? | | | | indicated for hip arthritis in which the articular cartilage |
| There are four primary diseases of the hip that may | | | | has deteriorated and, therefore, the acetabulum |
| indicate the need for Birmingham Hip Resurfacing: | | | | (socket) must be replaced. At the present time, |
| ·Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis of the hip is a disease, | | | | metal-metal hip resurfacing devices are the subjects |
| which wears away the cartilage between the femoral | | | | of ongoing clinical trials in the U.S. and they are |
| head and the acetabulum, eventually causing the two | | | | classified as “category B-1 investigational” |
| bones to scrape against each other, raw bone on | | | | devices by the FDA. As a result of this status, |
| raw bone. When this happens, the joint becomes | | | | availability is limited to a relative handful of surgeons |
| pitted, eroded and uneven. The result is pain, | | | | throughout the country. |
| stiffness and instability, and in some cases, motion of | | | | How is hip-resurfacing surgery performed? |
| the leg may be greatly restricted. Patients with | | | | Hip resurfacing surgery is performed through an |
| osteoarthritis often develop large bone spurs, or | | | | incision similar to a standard hip replacement. The |
| osteophytes, around the joint, further limiting motion. | | | | arthritic joint is exposed, and the remaining cartilage is |
| ·Rheumatoid Arthritis: Unlike osteoarthritis, which is a | | | | removed, but most of the bone stays in place. A |
| "wear and tear" phenomenon, rheumatoid arthritis is a | | | | metal cap is then placed on the ball, and a metal |
| chronic inflammatory disease that results in joint pain, | | | | socket is placed in the pelvis |
| stiffness and swelling. The disease process leads to | | | | Advantages of Hip Resurfacing: |
| severe, and at times rapid, deterioration of multiple | | | | ·Femoral head is preserved. |
| joints, resulting in severe pain and loss of function. | | | | ·Femoral canal is preserved and no associated |
| ·Developmental Dysplasia: Developmental dysplasia | | | | femoral bone loss with future revision. Also, the risk |
| of the hip (DDH), also called hip dysplasia, is a lifelong | | | | of micro fracture of femur with uncemented stem |
| condition, shared by one in 1,000 people. Because | | | | implantation is eliminated. |
| DDH patients are born with an altered hip anatomy, | | | | ·Larger size of implant "ball" reduces the risk of |
| the joint doesn't develop the normal wear patterns | | | | dislocation significantly. |
| over the years. This leads to "wear and tear" arthritis | | | | ·Stress is transferred in a natural way along the |
| at a relatively early age. | | | | femoral canal and through the head and neck of the |
| ·Avascular Necrosis: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the | | | | femur. With the standard THR, some patients |
| hip results when poor blood circulation starves the | | | | experience thigh pain, as the bone has to respond |
| bones that form the hip joint. In time, the starved | | | | and reform to less natural stress loading. |
| bone dies, and the hip joint collapses. AVN, | | | | ·Use of metal rather than plastic reduces osteolysis |
| sometimes called hip osteonecrosis, is most prevalent | | | | and associated early loosening risk. |
| in younger or middle-aged adults. | | | | ·Use of metal has low wear rate with expected |
| Types of Hip Resurfacing Surgery: | | | | long implant lifetime. |
| There are two types of Hip Resurfacing: a partial | | | | Health Care Vacation in India: |
| (hemi) hip resurfacing or a complete hip resurfacing. | | | | Do you need a break from skyrocketing health care |
| The partial hip resurfacing results in a cap being | | | | costs? Maybe you should take something called a |
| implanted over the femoral head. No cup is placed in | | | | "medical vacation." More and more people faced with |
| the acetabulum to provide a mating pivoting surface. | | | | expensive medical procedures are doing just that. An |
| The partial hip resurfacing results in a bone on metal | | | | estimated half a million Americans are going to take a |
| situation. Partial hip resurfacing was the early | | | | "medical vacation" this year because they either can't |
| accepted form of hip resurfacing in the US and was | | | | afford to undergo the treatment they need in their |
| not always successful long term. The metal rubbing | | | | country or prefer to save money this way and use |
| on the bone often failed over time. A partial hip | | | | the money they save in other ways. It's a rapidly |
| resurfacing was used with patients who had | | | | growing trend and it's primarily due to a combination |
| osteonecrosis or AVN of the femoral head. Partial hip | | | | of rising healthcare costs, an increasing number of |
| resurfacing is not the best solution for hip | | | | people with little or no medical insurance, and the |
| replacement today. Hip resurfacing with the BHR and | | | | appealing idea of combining two things at once: travel |
| other current hip devices offers the younger, active | | | | (often exotic) and necessary or elective surgery. The |
| patient an opportunity to return to a full active life | | | | travel industry refers to this phenomenon as "medical |
| without restrictions and without pain. It is bone | | | | tourism” Rising health costs across the entire |
| conserving and has been the choice of surgeons for | | | | western world are encouraging more and more |
| younger people in the rest of the world for over nine | | | | tourists to seek health vacations or opt for medical |
| years. | | | | tourism in countries like India. Yoga is said to have |
| What is the difference between metal-metal hip | | | | fantastic health benefits, and millions of adherents of |
| resurfacing and femoral head or "hemi" resurfacing? | | | | the varied yoga disciples will certainly attest to that. |
| Hemi-resurfacing is indicated for patients with early | | | | A yoga holiday to India is considered the best - for |
| stage (i.e., stage II, stage III/early stage IV) | | | | one, it is the motherland of yoga, and holidays to |
| avascular necrosis (AVN) in which the articular | | | | India are the cheapest you can find in the world. |