Ask the Doctor
Many of our patients often wonder about the same medical questions, and now you have an opportunity to read responses directly from our orthopedic surgeons, or to ask a question yourself!
Latest Question:
What is your opinion on Hip Resurfacing?
I am a Dentist in the Toronto area. I'm 52 and have moderate osteoarthritis in my right hip. It is limiting my enjoyment of life as it is very painful to golf and I'm limping a lot. I can walk for about 15 mins without pain. I can no longer run. I'm trying to decide between THP and resurfacing.
Submitted by Dr. Steven Millman.
Stuart C. Kozinn, MD Responds:
Hip resurfacing is a dying procedure. I do not recommend it for anyone. Besides the potential long-term problems from wear debris with the large surface area metal on metal articulation, the failure rate is much higher than for standard total hip replacements. Fractures of the femoral neck are common, and loosening of the cemented cap is inevitable. A well performed total hip is cementless ( potentially leading to permanent bone fixation ). Smaller minimally invasive components actually may be more conservative than surface replacement when you consider that socket bone loss is increased to fit the larger cup sizes needed for the larger head implant. The anterior hip procedure, which cuts no muscle (muscle sparing), using E-poly or equivalent longer lasting polyethylene is now the preferred procedure in most people.