• Home
• About Us
• Procedures
• FAQs
• Links
• Contact Us

JOINT HORIZONS Mount Stuart Hospital
St Vincent's Road Torquay
Devon
TQ1 4UP

T: 01803 326688
F: 01803 322006

Total Hip Resurfacing

Total hip resurfacing, of which the Birmingham Hip is one of several types, is an alternative to total hip replacement in younger or more active patients.

Instead of removing the bone of the ball and socket joint as occurs with a total hip replacement, the bone is preserved and resurfaced with a metal covering. This achieves the same pain relief as a total hip replacement, but allows the patient to return to a more active level of function, including running and other sports. In addition, because more bone is preserved in hip resurfacing, it makes conversion to a hip replacement easier if and when the artificial joint finally wears out or loosens, as all artificial joints eventually will.

Although hip resurfacing is a relatively new procedure, more experienced surgeons have been performing it for over ten years. The results show that hip resurfacings can last as long as total hip replacements, and their function can be rather better.

There are many reasons why you might opt for a hip resurfacing rather than a hip replacement, and your surgeon will be happy to discuss all the issues in detail with you at your initial consultation.

The Operation

Hip resurfacing surgery can be performed under either general or regional anaesthesia, and these options can be discussed with your anaesthetist prior to surgery.

Once the anaesthetic has been administered, a 15 to 20 cm incision is made on the outside of the upper thigh, and the hip is resurfaced using metal components. The skin is closed with a dissolvable stitch, and although the scar is in a conspicuous area, it heals nicely and usually fades to a barely noticeable white line.

It is important to understand that hip resurfacing is not a minimally invasive procedure, although in the future this may be possible as new implant designs and computer-aided surgery become available.

After a short period of observation in the recovery area you will be transferred back to the ward, the whole procedure taking about two hours.

Your Stay in Hospital

Hip resurfacing is a major operation and there is always some swelling, discomfort and bruising afterwards which will steadily improve over the first few weeks. The medical and nursing staff will ensure that you are as comfortable as possible, and will get you out of bed to start standing and walking the day after your operation.

You will start with a walking frame under the supervision of a physiotherapist, who will give you instructions and show you exercises that you should continue once you return home.

You will have an X-ray taken of the hip, which you can look at and discuss with your surgeon, and by the time you are discharged (about five days after surgery) you will be walking comfortably and safely with two crutches which you should continue with for the next six weeks. You should be able to go up and down stairs one at a time, get yourself to the lavatory or on and off the bed independently, although you may need some help with shopping and other domestic tasks.

If you live alone and are worried about how you will manage after your operation you should discuss this at your initial consultation so that arrangements can be put in place.

Outcome of Surgery

You will be reviewed by your surgeon at six weeks, and as long as there are no problems you will be encouraged to start walking without crutches, and should be able to return to driving.

You may gradually increase your level of activity and should be able to return to normal activities, including sports, within the next six to nine months.

For more information you can download our Hip Resurfacing Advice Sheet (Microsoft Word file - 48KB)

Would you like to know more about Joint Horizons?

We will be introducing new features to the site on a regular basis. If you would like to be kept informed of changes to the site, please register with us.

Joint Horizons consider your privacy and confidentiality to be of the highest importance.

If you are concerned about submitting information to Joint Horizons please view our Privacy Policy.

The Joint Horizons site is built with XHTML 1.0 and CSS 1.0