What Occurs in Hip Resurfacing As Published on the ASR hip replacement recall Website

Medical research says that drugs, together with physical therapy, are frequently used as treatment methods for painful and damaged joints. In the event that conservative treatment does not cause any improvement, surgical repair is advised. The total hip replacement (THR) or the hip resurfacing arthroplasty, an alternative procedure, may be advised. However, a medical technology forum finds metal-on-metal hip resurfacing too risky.

Hip resurfacing is commonly done on younger patients suffering from severe hip arthritis. Young patients, below the age of 60, are advised to have hip resurfacing instead of the total hip replacement because they may face multiple surgeries over the course of their lifetime. Hip resurfacing removes less bone and is thought to help prevent complications brought by hip revision surgery.

How is the procedure done? The concept of surface replacement, also known as hip resurfacing, originated in the 1970s as an attempt to preserve bone during the implantation of an artificial hip joint. In hip resurfacing, the normal bone is preserved. The whole ball and socket joint is not removed. Instead, a metal cap is placed around the spot where the cartilage has worn off.

Two different incisions into the hip joint are carried out by the surgeon. With anterior approach, the hip joint is viewed from the front. A rear incision is performed in the posterior approach. There is no one right approach, though. The training and experience of the surgeon determines what approach to take.

The usual length of a hip resurfacing is one and one-half to three hours. The operation starts upon incision of the thigh 15-20 centimeters long. Dislocation of the femoral head out of the socket follows. Using a specially designed power instrument, the head is cut down. The cap is placed over the smoothed head. Using a reamer, the cartilage is detached from the socket. With the friction between the bone and the metal to hold it in place, a metal cup is pushed into the socket. The incision is closed once the cup is in place and the femoral head is placed back into the socket.

The patient is transferred to the recovery after the operation where he will be closely monitored by the nurse. Transfer to the patient’s room will follow if after two hours he presents normal vital signs. According to some experts, roughly 10-15% of patients who are to have a hip replacement may find hip resurfacing a good alternative. While the procedure poses fewer complications than THR, it would be best if you consult a health care provider for a careful assessment. Patients and surgeons must talk about the surgical approach and the hip device to be utilized. An ASR hip replacement recall was ordered last year by DePuy Orthopedics after it was discovered through certain studies that the implant failed earlier than expected.