Hip Resurfacing

Severe wear of the hip-joint is called osteoarthritis and is accompanied by severe pain and stiffness that cannot be treated by pain killers or other medication. The best treatment for the osteoarthritic hip is either complete hip replacement or hip resurfacing. In the hip surfacing procedure the complete hip is not replaced and instead the original worn-out surfaces of head and socket are machined with precision instruments and lined with a metal covering. The head and the neck of the femur remain intact.

The hip resurfacing package includes transportation between the airport, clinic, and hotel, 4 days stay at a hotel, 5 days stay at the clinic and 7 days at a specialized rehabilitation center. It further includes all consultation and surgeon's fees, all anesthesiologist fees, initial and final examinations and any necessary medication for surgery and recovery.

The surgeon begins by making the incision over the hip so that the hip joint is exposed. By using a special instrument called reamer, the surface of the acetabulum is cleared so that the acetabular component can be placed on it. After inserting the component the liner made of ceramic metal is placed inside. Subsequently by taking away a small part of the bone, the surface of the femoral head is cleared with the reamer in which the femoral component is inserted. Finally the incision is sutured.

General anesthesia is used throughout the entire process. The surgery lasts between two to three hours.

Hip resurfacing is an excellent alternative to a total hip replacement procedure if the bone is relatively healthy. Only 3 to 4mm of the surface of the bone is removed thus allowing the patient to keep their natural hip. Hip resurfacing procedure helps to reduce the pain and discomfort and resume the normal activities of daily life.