Resurfacing Post Osteotomy?

[Limper]

Hi - Anyone here have a hip resurfaced after an osteotomy? 

I had SCFE as a kid, and the pining procedure on my left hip didn't take/lead to AVN, so I had a subsequent osteotomy.  I later had a pin placed in my right hip, which was successful.  All of this surgery was performed in 1981 & 1982. I went on to athletics in high school and college, a few marathons, triathlons, etc. In 2003 my left hip started to bother me as I was training for a marathon, so I went to see an orthopedic surgeon who said, more or less, knock it off.  I quit running, but I still skied, and occasionally played a game of handball, went on hikes, etc.  There was always some level of pain, but nothing I couldn't live with (thank you Costco for the horse-bucket sized bottles of ibuprofen).

Then, about six weeks ago, things started to go south.  The pain in my left hip ratcheted up quickly, to the point that I couldn't get up stairs, couldn't walk more than few blocks, and had trouble getting to sleep. I went to see an orthopedic surgeon who took xrays and said that my hips were in pretty crappy shape, which surprised me as my right hip is pain free. He sent me for an MRI to be sure, but then said that I was to the point that there were no options short of replacement for the left hip.  On the xray the top of my left hip looks like the head of a flamingo. I asked about resurfacing, and he said that his practice (he and two other docs)was generally anti-resurfacing because of the metal on metal risks, recent advisories, etc., and that I wasn't a good candidate anyway because of AVN. I have an appointment with that practice's replacement guy at the end of April.

I have read a lot of opinions by doctors, all of whom seem qualified to me, and the opinions are all over the map.  Some say that resurfacing is the best option for younger people, especially active males, and others say that there are no advantages over full on replacement, and that resurfacing has additional risks which are therefore unwarranted.

In the meantime, the pain has subsided somewhat, probably because I am babying it and have stopped all exercise.  It still hurts, but I can get up stairs again, and I can walk a few blocks at a time.  I'm seriously considering some sort of surgical solution, and I'm researching options.

So - my questions is - has anyone had a resurfacing done post osteotomy?  I still have screws and plates in there, and I'm not sure if this disqualifies me as a candidate. 

Thanks,

Limpey (at least for now)