Hip resurfacing caps the femoral head instead of removing it, preserving bone for the future. It's ideal for young, active men under 60 with strong bone, while THR is better suited for women and patients with osteoporosis.
What is hip resurfacing?
Instead of cutting the femoral head off, resurfacing places a metal cap over it and a metal cup in the socket — preserving the natural neck and head bone.
Who is a candidate?
Men under 60 with good bone quality, no inflammatory arthritis, normal kidney function and large enough femoral head are ideal candidates.
Women, osteoporotic patients and those with renal impairment are usually better served with a standard THR.
Pros and cons
Pros: bone preservation, allows higher impact activity, easier revision later.
Cons: not suitable for everyone, slightly more technically demanding, metal-on-metal bearing requires careful patient selection.