HIP RESURFACING PROJECT

ABJHI STUDY EXAMINES HIP RESURFACING AS ALTERNATIVE TO TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT

The Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) is conducting a study of hip resurfacing as an alternative to conventional total hip replacement in Alberta patients.

In hip resurfacing, the surface layer of diseased cartilage and bone are removed and the head of the femur is reshaped to accept a cup prosthesis.  The procedure conserves bone, and has been performed mainly in younger and more active patients who are expected to outlive a conventional total hip replacement prosthesis.

A metal-on-metal (MOM) device is used in hip resurfacing.  Immediate and short-term follow-up of MOM resurfacing reveal low wear rates and good clinical results in general. 

However, in the absence of long-term follow-up studies on hip resurfacing, researchers can only speculate on revision rates.  In addition, literature is inconclusive regarding the long-term risks and consequences of systemic metal ions resulting from MOM hip prostheses.

Given this uncertainty, coupled with increasing public demand for hip resurfacing, ABJHI has undertaken a study to determine the effectiveness, safety, cost and cost-utility of hip resurfacing compared with other total hip replacement.

The study, launched in June 2004, involves following patients for at least 10 years to provide an accurate measure of revision rates for hip resurfacing.  In addition, blood samples are taken annually during this period from patients so that systemic metal ions can be measured and subsequently assessed for risk.

Would you like to support the Institute’s research on hip resurfacing?  For information on how to donate, please click on the link to the right.