Hip Resurfacing Surgery

In hip resurfacing surgery, the head of the femur is trimmed to a rounded shape, followed by covering it with a metal cap. The cup joint of the hip is then fitted with a corresponding metal cup. The procedure is bone conserving because most of the joint is retained.

The hip is a joint with a ball and socket. The top of the thigh bone (femoral head) is a smooth, rounded surface that fits into the hip socket (acetabulum). The bones are covered with smooth cartilage that lets them glide against each other when you move. It’s common for this joint to experience wear and tear as you get older, especially if you develop arthritis as you age. Osteoarthritis is a kind of arthritis that happens at the ends of the bones. It breaks down cartilage, causing swelling, pain, and deformity.

In a traditional total hip replacement surgery, the surgeon removes the damaged bone and cartilage from your hip and replaces them with man-made parts. These bones are then replaced with a new head and socket. The head is usually metal and the socket hard plastic.