Thanks for posting John. Perhaps the most interesting data contained in their report, concerns what they found out about metal ions. They did blood draws at 5 and 10 years in 216 patients. Here's what they found (or rather, didn't find).
No correlation between ion levels and cup angle on radiographs (Stulberg et al. 2011 AAOS Annual Meeting, Podium #62
This would support the numerous people on this board who get attacked, when they say they have high metal ions, even though they have properly placed components. Everyone is so quick to dismiss these fellow hippies, saying, "You really need to send your x-rays to doctors X, Y and Z, because they can often spot misplaced cups that your surgeon can't."
Everyone would do well to remember this study the next time the topic of metal ions comes up.
Note by Patricia Walter
Please note this is one study by a surgeon who does not even do hip resurfaicng any more. He never did even 100 as far as I know. One study does not mean it is gospel. There are many other studies that show incorrect cup angles do increase edge wear that increases metal ions. I have listened to the presentations.
Note by original author: Respectfully Pat, this was an investigation carried out at the behest of Corin that followed the FDA guidelines for such studies. If you had read the original material presented at AAOS, you would see that many of these patients in the study were not Dr. Stulberg's. Certainly, there is very strong anecdotal evidence that cup angle has an effect on metal ion levels. But I have yet to see a peer reviewed clinical study that can directly correlate cup angle, with ion level. If you believe there is, please post it here. Ultimately, my point is that there are many things about hip resurfacing that no one (surgeons included) has yet to be fully understood. But people like you and me know enough about it to determine it's a far better option for many of us than THR.
