Hip resurfacing: A boon for Boomers or too risky

[IslandCatt]

I've been doing some "hip reading" today. Here's another interesting article I came across.

http://www.aaos.org/news/bulletin/aug07/cover3.asp

Conclusions
Though Drs. Kudrna, Amstutz, and Lachiewicz have different views about various aspects of hip resurfacing, they agree on three specific issues:

    Patient selection is very important. The patient criteria for this procedure are quite specific.

    Hip resurfacing is a difficult procedure to perform and has a longer learning curve than many other orthopaedic procedures. Experienced surgeons should act as “mentors” with those who want to learn the procedure. This learning process should include work with cadavers.

    More prospective studies of hip resurfacing need to be done. Until they are, the issue will remain open and the discussions will continue.

[Tin Soldier]

Interesting article.  Thanks

I think they should be careful when they say that HR is only appropriate for a small portion of the THA world (both HR and THR).  It was something like that in the article.  The key to that argument is to present the total THA population and then show how many of them are HRs and how many are THRs.  Indeed there is an aging population that have a local ortho clinics nearby with THR surgeons that crank them out, and the patient has essentially no knowledge of the potential to go with an HR, so they get the THR.  ALso as pointed out in the article, the increased bone density in the femoral head with some new stresses, may actual increase the strengh of the neck in an aging person who might have decrease bone density. 

I still think everyone looking into THA, should consider HR no matter what.  Doesn't hurt to look and ask questions.

Good article. 

[Woodstock Hippy]

An important issue is that HR is a much more techniquely difficult surgery.  Not all orthopaedic surgeons should be doing HR.  THR's are much easier on the surgeon and really just fine for most hip patients.  Most people only want to walk without pain again. 

Dr Marwin told me that the doctors who turned away from HR weren't willing to put in the time to properly learn the procedure.  Patients are better off with those doctors doing THR's and let the specialists do HR for the patients who want it.