🕰️The History of Hip Resurfacing
From Early Failures to Modern Devices
Hip resurfacing didn’t appear overnight.
It has gone through decades of trial, failure, innovation, and improvement to become what it is today.
Understanding this history helps explain:
- Why some devices succeeded
- Why others failed
- Why surgeon experience matters so much
The idea of hip resurfacing goes back to the 1940s.
- Early procedures attempted to “cap” the hip instead of replacing it
- Designs used primitive materials and fixation methods
👉 The problem:
- Poor durability
- High failure rates
By the 1970s–80s:
- Metal-on-polyethylene designs wore out quickly
- Loosening and fractures were common
💬 Reality at the time:
“Hip resurfacing was largely abandoned.”
🔄 The Comeback (1990s – The McMinn Era)
Everything changed in the 1990s.
British surgeon Derek McMinn—along with colleagues like Ronan Treacy—rethought the entire concept.
Key improvements:
- Modern metal-on-metal bearings
- Better implant design
- Improved surgical technique
👉 The breakthrough moment:
- July 30, 1997 – the first modern
Birmingham Hip Resurfacing was implanted
💬 Why this mattered:
“This marked the beginning of modern hip resurfacing.”
🏆 The Rise of BHR (Late 1990s–2000s)
The BHR became the most successful modern resurfacing device.
- Strong long-term results
- High survivorship rates
- FDA approval in the U.S. in 2006
It helped drive a surge in popularity in the early 2000s.
💬 Patient perspective:
“This is when resurfacing really took off.”
⚠️ The Downturn (Late 2000s – Device Problems)
Not all devices performed well.
Two major examples:
❌ ASR (DePuy)
- FDA approved
- Later recalled due to high failure rates
- Linked to metal wear and complications
❌ Cormet
- Also FDA approved at one time
- Eventually withdrawn from the U.S. market
👉 Result:
- Increased scrutiny of metal-on-metal implants
- Decline in hip resurfacing popularity
💬 Reality:
“The problem wasn’t resurfacing itself—it was some device designs.”
🔍 Lessons Learned
From this period, several important lessons emerged:
- Implant design matters
- Surgical technique matters even more
- Not all devices are equal
👉 And most importantly:
Surgeon experience is critical to good outcomes
🔬 The Modern Era (2010s–Today)
Recap/Magnum Hip Resurfacing System
Polymotion® Hip Resurfacing System
ReCerf Ceramic on Ceramic Hip Resurfacing System
H1 Ceramic on Ceramic Hip Resurfacing System
BHR – Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System
Today, hip resurfacing continues to evolve.
🧪 Newer Devices and Approaches
•Recap/Magnum
- Used by Dr. Gross and soon to be available to other hip resurfacing surgeons
- Used for 6000+ hip resurfacing surgeries
•Polymotion
- The Polymotion cup is mostly made of Vitamin E crosslinked polyethylene, coated with a thin layer of titanium porous coating for bone ingrowth.
- Designed to avoid metal-on-metal issues
• ReCerf Hip Resurfacing System
- Ceramic on ceramic surface technology
- Focus on reducing metal ions
• H1 Resurfacing
- Newer design and materials
- Ceramic on Ceramic
- Still building long-term data
• Synovo Preserve
- Used by surgeons like Dr. James Pritchett
- Cementless, ceramic coated titanium, cross-linked polyethylene hip resurfacing device
- Combines modern materials with resurfacing principles
⚙️ Established Systems Still in Use
Even with newer designs, some long-standing systems remain important:
- Birmingham Hip Resurfacing
- Magnum / Recap system
These continue to be used by experienced, high-volume surgeons.
🧠 Where Things Stand Today
Hip resurfacing today is:
- Less common than in the early 2000s
- More selective in patient choice
- Highly dependent on surgeon expertise
💬 Balanced view:
“It’s no longer widely used—but in the right hands, it works very well.”
🧭 The Big Picture
The history of hip resurfacing is not a straight line.
It’s a story of:
- Early innovation
- Major setbacks
- Careful refinement
And one consistent theme:
Success depends on the right patient, the right device, and especially the right surgeon
💬 Final Thoughts (Surface Hippy Perspective)
After decades of development:
- Hip resurfacing is still a valuable option
- It continues to evolve
- It requires careful decision-making
💬 Most common patient advice:
“Learn the history—but focus on finding the right surgeon today.”