bone density, inflammation

[frekoss]

Hi everyone,
I am considering hip resurfacing with Dr. Gross. He, Dr. Bose and Dr. Su said that I have a risk of femoral head fracture due to my age (66) and the lower bone density which is -1.6 T Score in the right femoral neck. It is considered penioosteoporosis...it is not osteoporosis yet. Apparently, this number is average for my age. My left hip which I have no problem with has worse bone density than my right hip (-2.7).

The bone density in my spine has improved in the last year and there have been no changes in bone density in my hip in the last year.   

Dr. Bose recommends the new BHR with the long titanium stem similar to those used in THR, but the femoral head is not removed. It is caped and treated as a hip resurfacing. This supposedly protects the femoral neck from fracture.

Dr. Gross has agreed to do the hip resurfacing because my bone density isn't that terrible....there is more concern about my age as the bone densisty could get worse which could compromise the femoral neck. I would have to be on crutches for 6 weeks, which wouldn't bother me if the hip held up.

Has anyone heard of the new Birmingham hip resurfacing with the titanium stem?  I don't believe it is approved by FDA as yet in the U.S.

Has anyone else been warned of risk of femoral head fracturing due to similar bone density numbers? 

Is there anyone on this list who is close to my age who has had a successful Bio-met non cemented hip resurfacing by Dr. Gross? I am told that he has operated on others with similar bone density which have been successful.

Also, is there anyone who has had hip resurfacing or THR who also had an autoimmune disease, high ANA titer and/or coagulation irregularities?

I would appreciate any information....thank you for sharing.

Freya

I would very much a