I’ve benefited greatly from reading posts on this site over the last few years (thanks Pat) so thought I’d pass on my experience.

I had the new Jointmedica Polymotion Hip Resurfacing with Dr Bill Farrington in Auckland NZ about 4.5 months ago and it’s been a life changer. I’m at the stage now where I barely know I’ve had surgery. I’m still protecting it but have been for a few light runs (5-10min) and a light hit of Tennis and it felt good (still weak though). To note that sort of activity wasn’t recommended by my doctor, I’ve been advised to take it easy which I will but it’s easy to forget with the way it feels now. Seems to have made big improvements in the last 4-6 weeks.

Background:

Bilateral FAI and labral tears, had surgery for cam lesion removal and labral repair when I moved to London with Johan Witt about 14 years ago (4 months apart), that went well although a few years ago after moving back to NZ I started pushing sports a bit harder and getting a pain the right hip, the x-rays indicated I needed a new right hip and left not far behind…

Surgeon – Dr Bill Farrington

An outstanding surgeon! As evidence suggests, a surgeon with a lot of experience is key. I have a few mates who are in the medical field/orthopedics and all said Bill was a fantastic surgeon. He doesn’t do any social media so limited public info but he’s from England and was trained by McMinn et al, has 2 x BHR’s himself and has 20 years experience resurfacing with a great track record so felt I was in great hands.

Reason for Polymotion:

I had a skin reaction from my apple watch band which was likely down to nickel although not proven, I was sent off for an LTT but they don’t do them here in NZ… I’d asked about the alternative devices like the Polymotion but it wasn’t available anywhere at that stage and there wasn’t anything else with the long term performance stats of the BHR (ADEPT close). I was still managing by cutting activity/using anti-inflammatories so didn’t feel I needed to rush it although changed fairly quickly and it started getting bad in the last year so I thought I’d just go get the BHR, odds were very low there would be any correlation with in vivo metal reaction as I’m mid 40’s male. On my next appointment I said let’s go for BHR ASAP but Bill had recently been to an event with Jointmedica re the new Polymotion and it was not far away from being available in NZ. He didn’t try to sell it to me and was very matter of fact re new devices but as I’d read so much about it I was keen to give it a go. I’m going to need the other hip done at some stage and if there is any indication of metal sensitivity 2 MoM devices might not be great.

From what I’ve read/reviewed:

• Spiked cup makes sense for secure fixation especially before bone ingrowth.
• Potential for reduced stress shielding due to cup elasticity being similar to bone – great upside if revision/removal is required at a later date. Also a reason I wasn’t keen to look at ceramic.
• Crosslinked poly with vit E wear/oxidation early/mid terms studies look encouraging in THA.
• Mathys RM pressfit monobloc cup seems to have a good track record.
• Femoral head is an improved version of BHR (shorter stem and doesn’t trap excess bone cement).
• Hoping to get a long time out of it but if it did fail or wear then it looks like it can be reamed out with minimal bone loss or converted to THA if cup replacement wasn’t an option and femoral head still intact.
• A lot less chance of metal reaction (even though it is low risk)

Surgery/recovery:

Anesthetic spinal and general – I was a bit nervous about the spinal but sounds like that helps control blood pressure/blood loss and means less narcotics have to be administered, all worked well and woke up in zero pain. First 24 hours were great even after the spinal wore off but I’d no doubt had a lot of local anesthetic. Bit of a reality check day 2 after the local wore off, tender for a few weeks but gradually got better, moving leg off bed to get upright was the hardest in first few weeks. Fairly low key short walks for the first 4 weeks then got into a bit of cycling once I could drive back to the gym after circa 4 weeks. One crutch from about 4 weeks, off crutches around 6-7 weeks but took about the 3month mark to feel comfortable walking, slopes angles you could feel the weakness, all coming right now and continually improving and starting to get in to lunges and improving strength.

I had 64mm cup & 58mm head – I’m 105kgs and 195cm so I’ll be stress testing it from a size point of view and will keep you posted – hopefully all positive but there will no doubt be a few niggles along the way as I up the exercise intensity.