This is a technique that has developed over the past five to ten years. This differs from a classical hip replacement in that more of your original hip is retained – specifically the neck and upper shaft. This technique is more suitable to people under the sixty years of age, especially if you are leading an active lifestyle. After a resurfacing hip replacement, patients have continued to serve in the army and navy and deploy overseas. Some have jogged marathons and returned to downhill skiing! For younger people, it represents a major treatment option for the worn hip. Using this resurfacing approach still allows a normal total hip replacement to take place in later life.

Which resurfacing replacement?

The one that I use is the Birmingham Hip Replacement. This is the original design and has the longest follow-up. In a recent paper 99% were still fully functional at three years and 98% at five years. It is also worth remembering that these results are in the most active people as well! The operation has similar risks and timings to the total hip replacement described above.