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MICHIGAN ORTHOPEDICS
As one of the top Michigan orthopedic hospitals and with nationally renowned joint care and foot and ankle programs, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland serves as a model for hospitals across the country. Our Michigan doctors specialize in everything from custom knee replacement to hip replacements to shoulder injuries and even wrist fractures.
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CLICK HERE FOR A FREE COPY
OF THE MEDICAL REPORT
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THE FACTS ABOUT Hip Resurfacing
Background
Orthopedic surgeons are now offering a promising alternative to traditional hip replacement surgery – one aimed at younger, athletic baby boomers who’ve worn out their joints too soon. It’s called hip resurfacing.
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Podcast Posted: 08/10/2007
Duration:
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To accomplish the resurfacing procedure, surgeons cover a damaged hip ball and socket with smooth metal, rather than cutting away worn bone and replacing it. By lightly shaving the damaged femoral ball and fitting a metal ball snugly over it, the socket is reinforced. The idea: metal-on-metal shouldn’t wear out as fast. And, if patients need another replacement in 15 or 20 years, the thigh bone is largely intact.
The operation hit the United States market last spring with FDA approval of the British-designed Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System. Competitors in the United States are in clinical trials and expected to clear FDA approval later this year.
“This resurfacing technique has interest because we’re sparing bone,” explains Safa Kassab, MD and SJMO orthopedic surgeon. “Bone conservation is one of the largest benefits of this innovative procedure. In contrast to traditional hip replacement surgery, resurfacing does not remove as much of the leg bone.”
More than 400,000 total or partial hip replacements are performed every year, and a growing number is predicted to follow as the population ages. Until now, patients were often advised to soldier on for as long as possible because a standard hip replacement before age 60 is itself likely to wear out. With the new resurfacing option, individuals may be a little more aggressive in treating younger creaky joints.
It’s not the first time orthopedic surgeons have tried resurfacing worn-out hips. But, where earlier attempts failed, data from Europe suggests this latest approach uses longer-lasting materials – with the additional promise of joints that may hold up to the active lifestyles of today’s 40 and 50-somethings better than traditional hip implants.
The cut-off age for resurfacing, which is largely dependent on the patient’s bone strength, is typically between 60 and 65. The implant costs about 20 percent more than a standard artificial hip, adding to the $35,000 tab. And, not all insurers cover the procedure.
Not everyone is a good candidate, experts caution. Resurfacing isn’t for patients with thinning bones because part of the joint could break – or for those who have poorly functioning kidneys. Moreover, while patients typically recover quickly, resurfacing is more difficult to perform than a hip replacement, and only a small fraction of the nation’s orthopedic surgeons are trained to do it. Complicating the choice is that surgeons call newer artificial hips – ceramic-on-ceramic balls/sockets or the tougher plastic designs – good options for even the most active persons in their 60s.
Please call the SJMO physician referral line at 800.372.6094 to find an SJMO orthopedic surgeon near you.
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