Hip Cartilage

Hip resurfacing is an alternative to standard hip surgery used to treat severe hip arthritis. Hip resurfacing is not a new surgery. However, recent changes in the hip resurfacing implant design have led to a renewed interest in this procedure.

Why hip resurfacing surgery?

There are four main diseases of the hip that may indicate the need for Birmingham Hip Resurfacing:

· Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis of the hip is a disease that wears away the cartilage between the femoral head and acetabulum, causing two bones to scrape against each other, raw bone on raw bone. In this case, the joint becomes pitted, eroded and uneven. The result is pain, stiffness and instability, and in some cases, the movement of the leg may be greatly reduced. Patients with osteoarthritis often develop large bone spurs or osteophytes, around the joint, further restricting movement.

· The rheumatoid arthritis: osteoarthritis difference, which is "wear and tear" phenomenon, rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease resulting in joint pain, stiffness and swelling. The disease process leads to serious and sometimes rapid deterioration of multiple joints, causing pain and loss of function.

· Development dysplasia: dysplasia of the hip (DDH), also called hip dysplasia, is a lifelong condition, shared by a person in 1000. Because DDH patients are born with an anatomy hip amended, the municipality does not develop signs of normal wear and tear over the years. This leads to "wear and tear" arthritis at a relatively early age.

· Avascular necrosis: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the hip results when poor blood circulation starves the bones that form the hip joint. Over time, the bone dies and collapses the hungry hip joint. AVN, sometimes called osteonecrosis of the hip is most common in young or middle-aged adults.

Types of Hip Resurfacing Surgery:

There are two types of hip resurfacing: a partial (semi) hip resurfacing or a complete hip resurfacing. The hip resurfacing partial results in a capsule is implanted in the femoral head. No cup is placed in the acetabulum to provide a pivotal connection surface. The hip resurfacing partial results in a bone on the situation in metal. Resurfacing part of the hip was the first accepted form of hip resurfacing in the United States and not always successful in the long term. The metal rubbing on bone often fail over time. A partial hip resurfacing has been used with patients who had AVN or osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Resurfacing partial hip is not the best option for hip replacement today. Hip resurfacing with the BHR and other devices now offer the hip younger, active patient the opportunity to return to full active life without restrictions and without pain. It is to preserve and bone has been the choice for young surgeons in the world for more than nine years.

What is the difference between metal-metal hip resurfacing and femoral head or "semi" repaving?

Hemi-resurfacing is indicated for patients at an early stage (ie stage II, stage III / early stage IV) avascular necrosis (AVN), in which articular cartilage is in relatively good condition. In other words, the hip is not arthritis. Therefore, the acetabulum is not replaced. There are several semi-resurfacing that are commercially available (eg, approved by the FDA).

metal-metal hip resurfacing, on the other hand, is indicated for arthritic hip in which the articular cartilage has deteriorated and, therefore, the acetabulum (socket) must be replaced. Currently, hip resurfacing metal-metal devices are undergoing clinical trials underway in the United States and are classified as "Class B-1"