Dr. De Smet Discusses Clinking and Clicking after Hip Resurfacing Surgery

The clunking noises and clicking feeling in the first 6 months after hip resurfacing surgery is a temporary decoaptation of both components. This means that the two big metal  parts of the prosthesis come apart and come together again. Having a large diameter gives no wear of the prosthesis and will not destroy anything. Because of the release of the capsule around the hip to be able to do a hip resurfacing procedure without sawing the head of, the hip joint is looser at the beginning. This is even more because of the badly trained muscles of the preoperative condition and all the fluid around the newly placed joint.

The clunking is painless and subsides once the capsule and muscles around the hip are fully healed. It occurs in the first 6 months after surgery and disappears progressively.

The incidence can be around 20% of all patients after hip resurfacing surgery!

This finding should not be confused with local conflict problems with prosthesis or bone because of less ideal inserted implants. These will stay even after 6 months, will not become better, is painful and should be diagnosed by your physician.